Fear and Trembling (2003)

Fear and Trembling (2003) poster

Amélie, a young Belgian woman, having spent her childhood in Japan, decides to return to live there and tries to integrate in the Japanese society. She is determined to be a "real Japanese" before her year contract runs out, though it precisely this determination that is incompatable with Japanese humility. Though she is hired for a choice position as a translator at an import/export firm, her inability to understand Japanese cultural norms results in increasingly humiliating demotions. Though Amelie secretly adulates her, her immediate supervisor takes sadistic pleasure in belittling her all along. She finally manages to break Amelie's will by making her the bathroom attendant, and is delighted when Amelie tells her the she will not renew her contract. Amelie realizes that she is finally a real Japanese when she enters the company president's office "with fear and trembling," which could only be possible because her determination was broken by Miss Fubuki's systematic torture.

Director: Alain Corneau
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Runtime: 107 min
Release Date:

Cast

Screenplay

Cinematography: Yves Angelo
Editing: Thierry Derocles
Production: StudioCanal, Les Films Alain Sarde, Divali Films, France 3 Cinéma
Country: Japan, France
Language: 日本語, Français
Original Language: fr

Keywords

based on novel or book, fish out of water, tokyo, japan, translator, employer employee relationship

Similar Movies

More Films by Director: Alain Corneau
More Films in Genre: Comedy, Drama

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Fear and Trembling about?
Amélie, a young Belgian woman, having spent her childhood in Japan, decides to return to live there and tries to integrate in the Japanese society. She is determined to be a "real Japanese" before her year contract runs out, though it precisely this determination that is incompatable with Japanese humility. Though she is hired for a choice position as a translator at an import/export firm, her inability to understand Japanese cultural norms results in increasingly humiliating demotions. Though Amelie secretly adulates her, her immediate supervisor takes sadistic pleasure in belittling her all along. She finally manages to break Amelie's will by making her the bathroom attendant, and is delighted when Amelie tells her the she will not renew her contract. Amelie realizes that she is finally a real Japanese when she enters the company president's office "with fear and trembling," which could only be possible because her determination was broken by Miss Fubuki's systematic torture.
Who directed Fear and Trembling?
Fear and Trembling was directed by Alain Corneau.
Who stars in Fear and Trembling?
Fear and Trembling stars Sylvie Testud, Kaori Tsuji, Bison Katayama, Tarō Suwa, Yasunari Kondo, Sokyu Fujita.
How long is Fear and Trembling?
Fear and Trembling has a runtime of 1h 47m (107 minutes).
What genre is Fear and Trembling?
Fear and Trembling is a Comedy, Drama film.
Where was Fear and Trembling produced?
Fear and Trembling was produced in Japan, France.