Abstract:

"INTIMATE STRANGER is Alan Berliner's witty and candid portrayal of the life of his remarkable grandfather, Joseph Cassuto, who lived in Egypt in 1945. In 1923 Mr. Cassuto began working for one of the leading Japanese trading companies based there. His strong ties to his job and Japanese friends eventually led him to move to Japan; by the end of his life, Mr. Cassuto had spent 50 years with the same company. Mr. Berliner's film is an intimate, often touching exploration of the major threads that made up the fabric of his grandfather's life. One thread gives the viewer a look at postwar Japanese business culture as witnessed by Mr. Cassuto. Another tells the story of a man's singular devotion and dedication to his job, his company, his friends, and by extension to the people and country of Japan. Finally, Mr. Berliner's affectionate yet frank portrait asks the viewer to decide whether Joseph Cassuto's connection with Japan created an extraordinary man or just another expatriate in a foreign land. "