Sad Vacation (2007): cast, story & where to watch
2007 · Film · ★ 6.8
Released in 2007, Sad Vacation is a drama film directed by Shinji Aoyama, running about 110 minutes.
What it’s about. Kenji, abandoned by his mother, scrapes out a meager existence doing odd jobs including driving bar hostesses and their customers home. Besides this he takes care of the sister of an old friend in jail and a young illegal immigrant. But his life reaches a turning point when he happens to meet Chiyoko, his long lost mother. She is now married to Mamiya, the owner of an express package delivery service. They also have a teenage son, Yusuke. Subdued feelings of alarm, discomfort and resentment between Chiyoko, Kenji, and his half brother Yusuke hide underneath and are seemingly caused by the inseparable blood ties that seem to wield control over everyone's destiny. Is blood that powerful? What exactly defines a mother or a father? While Kenji struggles with these questions and attempts to escape his fate, Chiyoko seems content to let these issues unfold and find a solution. Where will it ultimately lead them?
Who’s in it. Sad Vacation stars Tadanobu Asano as Kenji Shiraishi, Eri Ishida as Chiyoko Mamiya, Aoi Miyazaki as Kozue Tamura and Yuka Itaya as Saeko Shiina, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.8/10, Sad Vacation has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Sad Vacation page.
If you liked it. Fans of Sad Vacation tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Sad Vacation (2007)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for Sad Vacation change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Is Sad Vacation worth watching?
- Sad Vacation holds an audience score of 6.8 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Sad Vacation?
- Sad Vacation stars Tadanobu Asano, Eri Ishida, Aoi Miyazaki, Yuka Itaya and Joe Odagiri.
- When was Sad Vacation released?
- Sad Vacation was released in 2007, with a runtime of about 110 minutes.