It's often said that the Japanese are blissfully ignorant of race issues that occur in the West while being overly (sometimes absurdly) alert to those same issues at home, even as they have no idea how to deal with them. With this in mind, it's a little tempting to think what would happen if a remake of "Intouchables" happened on these shores.
"Intouchables" goes like this: A rich Parisian paraplegic bonds with his caretaker, a Senegalese ex-con immigrant from the projects, and the pair have great fun together as well as stock up on some valuable life lessons. "Intouchables" has taken over $350 million worldwide, becoming the most successful film in French cinema history and the world's highest-grossing film in a language other than English.
Would a Japanese filmmaker have the clout to make a similar story, say between a wealthy entrepreneur and a Filipino caregiver? Not likely to happen, at least for the next half-century or so.