Hush! (2002)

Profile

Movie: Hush!
Japanese: ハッシュ！
Director: Ryosuke Hashiguchi
Writer: Ryosuke Hashiguchi
Producer: Tomiyasu Ishikawa, Hiroo Tsukada
Cinematography: Shogo Ueno
Release Date: May 2001
Runtime: 135 min.
Production Company: Siglo Ltd.
Distributor: Siglo Ltd.
Language: Japanese
Country: Japan

Plot

Easygoing Naoya (Kazuya Takahashi) works in a pet store, socializes on the gay circuit and gets his share of sex without ties, but remains unfulfilled. His dissatisfaction is eased by the prospect of a relationship when he meets sweet-natured research engineer Katsuhiro (Seiichi Tanabe), who keeps his sexuality hidden from family and colleagues, including a female co-worker with transparent romantic designs on him. Third key element is Asako (Reiko Kataoka), a troubled young woman with a past history of psychiatric problems, abortions and casual sex.

Deciding she wants a baby in her life, Asako identifies Katsuhiro as the ideal donor, basing her choice solely on the fatherly look in his eyes during a brief encounter at a restaurant. Katsuhiro discusses the parenthood option with Naoya, who dismisses the idea. When he learns that Katsuhiro and Asako have continued meeting, and that his lover is still reflecting on the woman’s proposition, Naoya is threatened by the intrusion into their relationship, adding to his frustration over Katsuhiro’s self-acceptance issues.