The Foreign Duck, The Native Duck and God in a Coin Locker is a Japanese Drama with elements of a detective story told in that particular Japanese unconventional style audiences know and love. Shiina (Gaku Hamada), a mild-mannered, friendly young man has just moved to Sendai for university. Being new to a city can be pretty daunting, but he makes a friend quickly, his neighbour, Kawasaki (Eita). After Kawasaki catches him singing Blowin’ In The Wind, he invites Shiina in to his home, and shortly after on an armed robbery of an all-night book shop – as one does. Thus starts Shiina’s odd, exuberant journey into Kawasaki’s world.\r\n\r\nWhile I was watching The Foreign Duck, The Native Duck and God in a Coin Locker I was texting a friend, who asked what the film is about. At that stage I was 75% of the way through and still I wasn’t quite sure how to answer. It’s an odd film – endearingly odd, in a way only a Japanese film can be. Book theft, animal mutilators, a love story, comedy and tragedy, as well as being a comment on Japanese attitudes to foreign students – there’s a lot going on. The film drops you in to the action straight away, and the plot twists and turns keep the audience engaged. Time and perspective are both fluid in this film, but Shiina’s presence acts as a coherent influence. I could watch anything with Eita – I’ve been a fan since I saw him in Azumi back in 2003, and he puts in a nice performance as the cool cat Kawasaki. Another notable performance comes from Nene Ohtsuka who plays the pet shop owner, Reiko, who would also be at home in a 1940’s film noir. The Foreign Duck, The Native Duck and God in a Coin Locker is an enjoyable, heart-warming, offbeat jaunt that will keep the audience guessing till the very end.\r\n\r\nDirector:Yoshihiro Nakamura\r\n\r\nScreenplay/ Writer’s name: Yoshihiro Nakamura, Kenichi Suzuki & Kotaro Isaka\r\n\r\nOriginal Title: Ahiru to kamo no koinrokkâ\r\n