Dolls (2002) – Filming Locations
Drama / Romance · Directed by Takeshi Kitano · Starring Hidetoshi Nishijima, Miho Kanno
Dolls takes puppeteering as its overriding motif, which relates thematically to the action provided by the live characters. Chief among those tales is the story of Matsumoto and Sawako, a young couple whose relationship is about to be broken apart by the former's parents, who have insisted their son take part in an arranged marriage to his boss' daughter.
Where was Dolls filmed?
- Tokyo, Japan, Tokyo – Opening sequence with the businessman and office worker meeting in the urban crowd. The bustling Tokyo station district establishes the film's urban isolation theme and introduces the first couple's disconnection amid city crowds
- Kyoto, Japan, Kyoto – The second couple encounters temples and traditional Japanese architecture throughout their journey. Kyoto's classical temples and gardens provide a contemplative backdrop for the second narrative of the film, contrasting modernity with tradition
- Nara, Japan, Nara – The young couple walks through the park encountering the famous free-roaming deer. The iconic deer park location reflects themes of fate and connection as the couple moves through this naturalistic setting
- Osaka, Japan, Osaka – Various urban scenes depicting the couples' movements through Japanese cities. Osaka's commercial landscape provides urban continuity throughout the film's interconnected narrative structure