Completed - JAPANESE - Female director, Drama, Second film - 116 minutes
Three women of different generations cross paths in a placid satellite city of Tokyo as they excavate the memories of their pasts.
Year of production : 2022 Director(s) : Yui KIYOHARA Cast : Kumi HYODO, Ai MIKAMI, Minami OHBA, Guama UCHIDA Producer(s) : Mayumi AMANO
A spring day in the overgrown leafy environs of once hopeful Tokyo satellite city Tama New Town. While tidying up, unemployed 44-year-old Chizu discovers a postcard from an old friend sent several years ago suggesting they get together now that she’s moved nearby. After another unsuccessful session at the local job center, Chizu wanders Tama’s similar-looking streets in search of the postcard address, but meets an unexpected result. While on her rounds, 33-year-old gas company meter inspector Sanae spots Chizu up a tree after failing to help some kids. Soon after, she hears a neighborhood announcement about a senile elderly man who’s wandered off. Sanae escorts him home but it’s both the wrong and right location. At the town park, 22-year-old university student Natsu practices her dance steps while Chizu follows along at a distance. On the anniversary of Natsu’s childhood friend Dai’s death she visits his mother and returns a receipt for a roll of of undeveloped photographs, but Dai’s mother encourages Natsu to keep them. As the three women delicately mine their pasts and ponder the nature of memory itself, connections and inspiration emerge in the spaces of their shared community.
Country(ies) : JAPAN
New Directors New Films 2023Beijing IFF 2023 (Panorama, Jury Prize Special Mention)Berlinale 2023 (Forum)San Sebastian 2023 (Zabaltegi-Tabakalera)Thessaloniki IFF 2023 (Film Forward Competition)