Directed by:
Ryosuke HashiguchiCinematography:
上野彰吾Plots(1)
The story of a Japanese couple in the years 1993 to 2001. Ryosuke Hashiguchi's tale of one couple's love for each other and their private tragedies also reflects a piece of recent Japanese history.
It is the year 1993 and Shoko and Kanao decide to make a concerted effort to start a family. Having sex according to a timetable is far from easy as long as Kanao earns a living as a casual cobbler and Shoko works as a proof reader for a small publishing house. One day Shoko does fall pregnant and Kanao finds a position as a court illustrator. But their happiness is short-lived: their child dies shortly after birth. At work Kanao encounters the breadth of Japan's social upheaval – its precarious economy and its sensational criminal cases, such as the proceedings against the perpetrators of poison gas attacks in Tokyo in 1995. Meanwhile, at home in their new apartment, Shoko finds herself suffering from depression. When she falls pregnant once more she decides to abort the child – without telling her partner. Her low spirits are now compounded by deep-seated feelings of guilt. Kanao's career flourishes. Shoko, on the other hand, has to give up her job and begin psychiatric treatment. A course of therapy at a Buddhist temple where she begins to paint still lives gradually helps her to regain her health and, at the end of the 1990s, find renewed hope.
(Berlinale)
Cast
![Lily Franky](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/168/133/168133992_ubxk5b.png)
Lily Franky
Japan
Best movies:
Like Father, Like Son (2013)
The Boy and the Beast (2015)
Shoplifters (2018)
![Tae Kimura](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/164/420/164420252_4a393b.jpg)
Tae Kimura
Japan
Best movies:
University of Laughs (2004)
After Life (1998)
The Murder Case of Hana & Alice (2015)
![Susumu Terajima](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/166/910/166910184_778b74.jpg)
Susumu Terajima
Japan
Best movies:
Nobody Knows (2004)
When Marnie Was There (2014)
Fireworks (1997)
![Akira Emoto](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/168/343/168343483_616e6p.jpg)
Akira Emoto
Japan
Best movies:
Natsu no niwa - The Friends (1994)
The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi (2003)
Lakeside Murder Case (2004)
![Seiichi Tanabe](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/164/109/164109633_39e510.jpg)
Seiichi Tanabe
Japan
Best movies:
Memories of Tomorrow (2006)
Half a Confession (2004)
Blues Harp (1998)
![Hirofumi Arai](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/162/354/162354705_139018.png)
Hirofumi Arai
Japan
Best movies:
Confessions (2010)
Josee, the Tiger and the Fish (2003)
Go (2001)
![Ryō Kase](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/276/276027_b45532.jpg)
Ryō Kase
Japan
Best movies:
Nobody Knows (2004)
I Just Didn't Do It (2006)
Letters from Iwo Jima (2006)
![Ken Mitsuishi](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/164/562/164562995_3d9269.jpg)
Ken Mitsuishi
Japan
Best movies:
Eureka (2000)
I Just Didn't Do It (2006)
Love Letter (1995)
![Noriko Eguchi](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/166/370/166370782_53b900.jpg)
Noriko Eguchi
Japan
Best movies:
Swing Girls (2004)
Josee, the Tiger and the Fish (2003)
Memories of Matsuko (2006)
![Yôji Tanaka](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/168/174/168174702_794k11.jpg)
Yôji Tanaka
Japan
Best movies:
One Piece! (1999)
Kikujiro (1999)
By Player (2000)
![倍賞美津子](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/168/705/168705446_1scnl9.jpg)
倍賞美津子
Japan
Best movies:
Ballad of Narayama (1983)
The Geisha (1983)
Kagemusha (1980)
![Jiro Sato](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/168/764/168764484_kkf00w.jpg)
Jiro Sato
Japan
Best movies:
Beck (2010)
Overprotected Kahoko (2017) (series)
Be Sure to Share (2009)
![Tamae Ando](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/164/577/164577892_a15556.jpg)
Tamae Ando
Japan
Best movies:
Perfect Days (2023)
Tokyo Tower: Mom and Me, and Sometimes Dad (2007)
Šindó (2007)
![Takashi Yamanaka](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/166/205/166205039_ebc69c.jpg)
Takashi Yamanaka
Japan
Best movies:
The Glorious Team Batista (2008)
Fish Story (2009)
All Around Us (2008)
![温水洋一](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/159/874/159874508_fde308.jpg)
温水洋一
Japan
Best movies:
Always: Sunset on Third Street 2 (2007)
Little Forest: Winter & Spring (2015)
Little Forest: Summer/Autumn (2014)
![横山めぐみ](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/160/881/160881866_ea01fd.jpg)
横山めぐみ
Japan
Best movies:
All Around Us (2008)
Ichi (2008)
Samurai Cat (2014)
![寺田農](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/160/924/160924254_f26499.jpg)
寺田農
Japan
Best movies:
The Human Bullet (1968)
Natsu no niwa - The Friends (1994)
Castle in the Sky (1986)
![片岡礼子](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/162/700/162700215_932f6f.jpg)
片岡礼子
Japan
Best movies:
Battle Royale (2000)
All Around Us (2008)
Hush! (2001)
![木村祐一](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/161/525/161525414_8c7c2d.jpg)
木村祐一
Japan
Best movies:
Nobody Knows (2004)
Always - Sunset on Third Street (2005)
Kamikaze Girls (2004)
![峯村リエ](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/161/539/161539829_82f451.jpg)
峯村リエ
Japan
Best movies:
Welcome to the Quiet Room (2007)
Flying Colors (2015)
Tokyo! (2008)