Life is unpredictable, often shaped by desperation, sacrifice, and redemption. In Crosspoint (2024) by Donie Ordiales, Manuel, an aspiring actor, and Yamaguchi, a man struggling with financial hardship, find their fates intertwined in Japan under dire circumstances. Their unlikely partnership sets them on a perilous mission to capture the infamous killer, Tatsuya. Tragedy strikes when Yamaguchi meets a grim end, but Manuelโ€™s courage ensures justice for the victims’ families. Transformed by the experience, he reconciles with his estranged father, while Yamaguchiโ€™s daughter, Mayuko, finds solace in her fatherโ€™s unspoken love. Through loss and self-discovery, both Manuel and Mayuko realize that love and understanding often come too late.

Spoilers Ahead

Crosspoint (2024) Plot Summary & Movie Synopsis:

Is Risako Responsible for What Happened to Her?

Risakoโ€™s decision to trust Tatsuya is not entirely irrational. She has no safe place to go, limited financial resources, and harsh weather conditions to deal with. Her disagreement with her parents leaves her stranded, making her vulnerable. Given the circumstances, seeking shelter is a necessity rather than a choice. Tatsuya presents himself as kind and harmless. His timid demeanor convinces Risako that he is not a threat. Even though she knows accepting help from a stranger might be risky, her desperation forces her to take that chance. Blaming her for believing Tatsuya overlooks the fact that predators like him manipulate their victims.

Risako quickly senses danger when Tatsuya makes an unusual request. She refuses to comply, asserting her boundaries. Her reaction shows that she is neither naive nor reckless. She recognizes the danger and stands her ground. Unfortunately, Tatsuyaโ€™s true nature is revealed when he turns violent. Risako is not responsible for what happened to her. She makes a decision based on her limited options, not out of ignorance or carelessness. The real blame lies with Tatsuya, who preys on vulnerable individuals. His actions are deliberate and calculated, making him the sole perpetrator.

Why Does Manuel Decide to Go to Japan?

Emmanuel, an accomplished actor, has a spell of unemployment. With no work as an actor in the Philippines, he is struggling to survive. This issue is even more pressing when he learns that his wife is pregnant. He needs a steady income to support his growing family. Manuel’s dad is also wealthy and can help him, but Manuel refuses his help.

Theirs is not a healthy relationship, as his dad did not live with him when he was growing up. Manuel holds it against him for not being present. He wants to show that he can do things his own way. Having no work options in his native country, Manuel looks elsewhere. His Japanese friends offer him a job. Though he knows that means leaving his wife at a critical moment, he feels he has no choice. He must take care of his family first. His decision is difficult, but he feels it’s for his family’s future.

Under What Circumstances Do Yamaguchi and Manuel Meet?

Both Manuel and Yamaguchi are having a tough time when they meet face to face. Yamaguchi is deeply in debt and is concerned about the safety of his daughter. The yakuza have threatened him, and thus his life is tougher. Manuel, however, has lost his job since he does not possess a valid work permit. He is stranded in a foreign country with no money and no advice.

Yamaguchi and Manuel run into one another at a bar. Yamaguchi, lost in thought, watches the young man sitting beside him trying to purchase a drink. Witnessing a fellow human being in distress, he buys Manuel a drink. The gesture of goodwill provides the two men with an opportunity to converse. Both men, burdened by their own failure and frailty, are comforted by sharing their misery.

Crosspoint (2024)
A still from “Crosspoint” (2024)

Their discussion is interrupted by a news flash of a prison escape. Tatsuya, the ruthless predator, has escaped. Manuel recognizes him at onceโ€”he had previously met Tatsuya outside a cafe where he was trying to get a job. As Manuel tells him this, Yamaguchi recognizes an opportunity that does not come along very often. The police have issued a 10-million-yen reward for the capture of Tatsuya. In his desperate financial plight, Yamaguchi recognizes this as his last hope to get out of debt and rescue his daughter. Yamaguchi and Manuel’s meeting is not a chance but a convergence of desperation. Both men are low, and fate presents them with an exit. Their shared tragedies push them into an improbable missionโ€”one that will change their lives forever.

Crosspoint (2024) Movie Ending Explained:

What Happens to Yamaguchi?

Yamaguchi, undeterred by Manuel’s hesitation, does not give up and confronts Tatsuya. In a desperate attempt to save his daughter’s future, he does something suicidally risky and ventures near death. His attempt fails. Tatsuya kills Yamaguchi, validating Manuel’s worst fears. Manuel is, however, successful in overpowering Tatsuya and turning him into the police.

Even though Manuel is responsible for Tatsuya’s arrest, the Japanese police arrest him first for illegal work. Even though he did a heroic act, though, they do not charge him. Manuel does not take the reward of 10 million yen for himself; instead, he requests that the entire amount be given to Yamaguchi’s daughter, Mayuko. The act shows how unselfish and how much respect he has for the man who, despite his shortcomings, sacrificed everything for his child.

Mayuko is shocked at the death of her father. She, however, finds an entry ticket to her concert on him. Up to that point, she had thought that he never encouraged her ambition. The reality that he had been watching her perform in secret makes her change her mind. She feels guilty when she understands that, despite his fears, Yamaguchi cares about her well-being.

Manuel in the Philippines ponders on the fleeting nature of life. Seeing how Yamaguchi died and Mayuko was filled with remorse, he understands that bitterness is useless. He makes up with his father, hugging him tightly and saying sorry for having been bitter. Even though he still does not have a job, he no longer believes the same way. With renewed hope, he is ready to create a better life for his child. Yamaguchi’s untimely death is a turning point for Manuel and Mayuko. Through his death, they are taught the strength of love, forgiveness, and second chances.

Read More: Top 10 Netflix Original Spanish Thrillers

Crosspoint (2024) Movie Trailer:

Crosspoint (2024) Movie Links: IMDb, Wikipedia, Letterboxd
The Cast of Crosspoint (2024) Movie: Carlo Aquino, Takehiro Hira, Sho Ikushima
Crosspoint (2024) Movie Runtime: 101 mins, Genre: Thriller, Drama, Action
Where to watch Crosspoint

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