Synopsis

For 21-year-old Kana, thinking about the future is too boring, and she doesn’t even know what she wants in life. She lacks passion for anything, and even romance is merely just for killing time. Her boyfriend Honda, with whom she lives, tries to please Kana by paying the rent and cooking for her. However, as her relationship with the self-confident creator Hayashi deepens, Kana begins to feel burdened by Honda

Curators’ note

Every girl must one day face the challenge of making choices on her own. The dazzling lights and towering skyscrapers of the city, along with the uncertainty of future plans, bring both confusion and anticipation to youth.This film captures the real emotions of many young women: the uncertainty about the future, the exhaustion from relationships, and the longing for self-identity. The protagonist, Kana, embodies the inner emptiness and confusion that anyone who has struggled with love and personal growth can deeply relate to. Through delicate emotional portrayal, the film explores the struggle between being lost and awakening, offering a soul-stirring journey. （Dr Peize Li)

Director’s bio

Yôko Yamanaka was born in 1997 in Nagano Prefecture. After dropping out of the Nihon University’s College of Art, she self-taught herself and produced her directorial debut work, “Amiko,” which won the Audience Award at the Pia Film Festival 2017. The following year, at the age of 20, “Amiko” was selected for the 68th Berlin International Film Festival, becoming the youngest director ever invited and setting a record as the youngest feature film director at the festival. Her film has been screened in over 10 cities and countries including Hong Kong and New York. Her directorial works include “Anytime, Anywhere” which is a part of the omnibus film “21 seiki no onna no ko (2019)” produced by Ū-ki Yamato, and “Uoza-doshi” (2020) as part of the ndjc program.

Director‘s statement

As a director, I initially explored power and insincerity in relationships, inspired by Fassbinder’s The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant（2001）. However, I shifted focus to films by Cassavetes and Claire Denis. I watched works by Pialat, Lou Ye, and Cassavetes to inspire the script, completing it in under a month. The protagonist, a young Japanese woman with bipolar tendencies, reflects my own struggles. To make her more universal, I incorporated experiences from the cast, like Honda’s breakdown, based on a film crew’s experience, and Hayashi counting Kana’s spine, inspired by a sweet memory.

Festival & Awards

Cannes Film Festival Nominee SACD Prize

Bangkok World Film Festival Lotus Award Competition Best Film

World Premiere at the 77th Cannes Film Festival in 2024

Casts

Yuumi Kawai, Daichi Kaneko, Kanichiro

Credits

Scriptwriter: Yoko Yamanaka

Cinematography: Shin Yonekura

Music: Takuma Watanabe

Editor: Banri Nagase