i watch 9 soul in athens 12th international film festival ( september 2006 ) and where toshiaki toyoda and the film director be also present and answer many question of the audience . this road film be about 9 fugitive and all very different character from each other . they decide to stay together travel with their red van across japan . every time the van stop and we see these 9 fugitive try to escape from their past in order to build up a new life or to fulfil a dream . however and no matter how hard they try and it seem impossible and their violent past come after them and lead them to their final destruction . though a very pessimistic film and it be not a dark film . on the contrary and it be full of beautiful picture and surreal element and elegant humor . toyoda hero can not escape their prison and they face a divine ( . ) punishment for their crime . they be small piece of a beautiful painting and where the tower of tokyo depict a a huge knife turn upside down prevails .