It is the year 2000 and the World Global Union is in charge, although other countries are allowed to elect their own government leaders, as long as they support the Union. When Austria’s newly-elected president, played by Josef Meinrad, makes his inauguration speech he declares Austria independence and issues an edict ending Austria’s financial support for the Global Union.
In this tender and touchingly humorous movie based on the acclaimed Broadway play, Scottie is a failed writer and a second-rate press agent. Terminally ill, he tries to reconcile with his estranged son before it’s too late.
Setsuko Hara plays Fumiko, whose unsuccessful marriage has made her become more and more cynical. When her niece Ayako visits and complains about her own marriage, she is unsurprised. Meanwhile, a new couple, whose marriage is similarly unblissful, moves in next door. The two couples create a very awkward bond that could ruin both marriages, but everyone seems to be aware and nobody cares either way.
Wealthy New York banker Daniel Van Dyke summons his wild family to announce that he is ill and plans to plead guilty to charges of income tax evasion in order to go to prison and get a rest from their antics.
In this film, an Italian industrialist who has made his fortune using some shady tactics, unwittingly becomes the victim and entertainment for four retired jurists. These four men, though retired, make it a practice to keep their legal skills sharp. Whenever a suitable villain stumbles across their path, they conduct a trial with all the trimmings. It is a form of play, but these virtuoso lawyers are quite serious about it.
