“Tokyo Cowboy” is a captivating dramedy that follows the journey of Hideki, a Japanese corporate turnaround expert portrayed by Arata Iura. Armed with confidence and a winning formula for revitalizing stagnant brands, Hideki is ready to tackle his latest challenge: saving a failing cattle ranch in Montana. He arrives with a polished pitch deck, which even includes a nostalgic snapshot from his childhood, and the backing of his fiancée Keiko, played by Ayako Fujitani, who also happens to be his boss, the corporate vice-president.
The ranch, co-owned by Peg (Robin Weigert), is on the brink of liquidation due to massive financial losses. Hideki swoops in with plans for a quick fix, but things take an unexpected turn when his Japanese beef consultant, Wada (Jun Kunimura), humorously immerses himself in the local culture. Hideki soon realizes that his initial approach may not be the solution after all. As he navigates this unfamiliar territory, both literally and metaphorically, Hideki begins to reassess his values and life goals. With the help of Javier (Goya Robles), a Mexican ranch hand, Hideki discovers that there is more to life than just profit margins and rising sales figures. However, his prolonged absence from Japan prompts Keiko to come after him.
This beautifully shot film marks the feature directorial debut of Marc Marriott, with cinematography by Oscar Ignacio Jimenez. Produced by Brigham Taylor, Marc Marriott, and Jeri Rafter, “Tokyo Cowboy” premiered at the 2023 Tallgrass Film Festival, where it won the Best Narrative Feature award. It went on to screen at several other festivals, including Boston, San Luis Obispo, Sedona, St. Louis International, Newport Beach, Zions Indie, and Heartland, earning accolades at each.
The screenplay, penned by Dave Boyle and Ayako Fujitani, draws from director Marc Marriott’s personal experiences living abroad. “The story of Tokyo Cowboy was born out of my own experience living as a foreigner in a foreign land,” Marriott explains. “Years ago, I had a profoundly impactful experience living in Japan. I went as one person, and I came home changed. My time in Japan caused me to become quieter—to listen more.”
Marriott reflects on the inspiration behind Hideki’s character and journey: “Hideki Sakai spends his time acquiring other people’s dreams. Like the characters in my favorite films such as ‘Local Hero,’ I was charmed by Hideki’s journey and his growing attraction to a place he has come intending to change, even destroy. Hideki’s bottom-line numbers-focused approach to life has left him empty—searching for more.”
Set against the stunning contrast of Montana’s natural beauty and Tokyo’s vibrant neon landscapes, “Tokyo Cowboy” is a story about finding courage and empathy within one’s own culture while connecting with others. Marriott adds, “The greatest dramatic stakes are when we risk something personal, and humor is most indelible when it’s derived from a shared human experience. This is what I wanted to feel in ‘Tokyo Cowboy.’ I hope audiences are surprisingly charmed by this gentle narrative about Hideki’s journey. I hope that they can see some of themselves in Hideki’s desire to listen, slow down, and connect with the land and with the people around him.”
Tokyo Cowboy is produced through Salaryman Film. Purdie Distribution will release Tokyo Cowboy in select US theaters as AMC Artisan Films on August 30th, 2024 with VOD to follow.
