Audition

Main Plot

Audition follows the story of Shigeharu Aoyama, a widower who is encouraged by his son to start dating again. To find a suitable partner, he decides to hold a fake audition for a film, inviting various women to participate. During the auditions, he becomes captivated by a mysterious and seemingly shy woman named Asami. As he pursues her, he is drawn into her enigmatic world, which begins to reveal darker and more unsettling aspects of her personality. As their relationship develops, Shigeharu discovers that Asami harbors deep-seated traumas and secrets that lead to increasingly disturbing and violent events. The film explores themes of obsession, manipulation, and the complexities of human relationships, culminating in a chilling confrontation that challenges perceptions of love and trust.

Characters

• Ryo Ishibashi plays Shigeharu Aoyama, a widower who holds a fake audition to find a new wife, leading to unexpected and terrifying consequences.
• Eihi Shiina plays Asami Yamazaki, a mysterious woman who becomes involved with a widower's deceptive audition, leading to a shocking and violent revelation.
• Tetsu Sawaki is Shigehiko Aoyama, the protagonist's son. He represents innocence and normalcy, contrasting the unfolding psychological horror and his father's unsettling romantic pursuit.

Ending Explained

In the ending of Audition, the tension culminates in a horrifying revelation as the protagonist, Shigeharu Aoyama, confronts the consequences of his misguided quest for love. After a series of unsettling encounters with the mysterious Asami, he discovers her true nature and the dark secrets of her past. The film's climax occurs in a disturbing scene where Aoyama wakes up to find himself bound and at the mercy of Asami, who reveals her sadistic tendencies. The main conflict, which revolves around Aoyama's search for a genuine connection after his wife's death, is resolved through this shocking turn of events. His initial romantic intentions are brutally subverted, illustrating the dangers of superficial judgments and the unpredictability of human relationships. Asami's violent actions serve as a commentary on the psychological scars left by trauma and rejection. The film concludes ambiguously, leaving viewers questioning Aoyama's fate and the nature of his desires. This unresolved ending reinforces the film's themes of obsession, manipulation, and the darker aspects of love, ultimately transforming Aoyama's quest for companionship into a nightmare, highlighting the perilous line between desire and danger.