Like Someone in Love (film)

In Tokyo, Akiko is a sociology student who moonlights as a high-end prostitute. Her jealous and overbearing boyfriend, Noriaki, is suspicious despite not knowing what she does for a living.

One night, Akiko's pimp Hiroshi persuades her to meet an important client in Yokohama, though she has to study for an exam she is taking the next day and wishes to meet with her grandmother, who has come to Tokyo for a surprise one-day visit. During the taxi ride, Akiko listens to voicemails from her grandmother, who has been waiting all day to be picked up at a train station. Spotting her grandmother waiting beside a statue in a square outside the station, Akiko tearfully instructs the driver to circle the square twice before continuing on their journey. Akiko eventually arrives at the apartment of the client, Takashi, an elderly, retired university professor who is more interested in conversation and making her dinner than having sex.

The next morning, Takashi drives Akiko to school for her exam. While waiting in the car for her, he witnesses Noriaki behaving aggressively towards Akiko before she walks inside. Noriaki then spots Takashi and, assuming he is Akiko's grandfather, asks permission to marry her. Takashi does not correct his assumption and assures him he is not ready for marriage. After Akiko's exam, the three drive towards a bookstore. Noriaki diagnoses a problem with the car and convinces Takashi to drive it to the auto shop he owns, where he replaces a fan belt. There, they encounter one of Takashi's former students; Akiko worries he will reveal the truth to Noriaki.

Takashi tells Akiko she can call him if she needs and drops her off at the bookstore before returning home. Soon afterwards, he receives a panicked phone call from Akiko and returns to the bookstore to pick her up. Her mouth is bloodied, but she does not say why. Takashi takes Akiko to his apartment. Noriaki arrives, threatening them over the intercom and banging on the door. Takashi peers out his window to see what Noriaki is doing. An object is thrown through the window and Takashi falls to the floor.

Like Someone in Love is a co-production between France's MK2 Group and Japan's Eurospace. It had a budget of US$4.8 million. Filming was originally planned for April 2011, but had to be rescheduled due to the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. The film was eventually shot over eight weeks in October 2011.^[4] It was shot on location in Tokyo and Yokohama.^{[citation needed]}

The film's initial production title was The End. It was Kiarostami's second feature film shot entirely outside his native Iran, following Certified Copy (2010) which was shot in Italy in 2009.^{[citation needed]}