On the subtropical Japanese island of Amami, traditions about nature remain eternal. Read more …
During the full-moon night of traditional dances in August, 16-year-old Kaito discovers a dead body floating in the sea. His girlfriend Kyoko will attempt to help him understand this mysterious discovery. Together, Kaito and Kyoko will learn to become adults by experiencing the interwoven cycles of life, death and love.
While beautiful, early scenes of shocking violence give way to philosophising and gauche symbolism.
Serene and engaging, if a little indulgent, Naomi Kawase’s feature is a prose-poem about death and love.
Kawase’s imagery is haunting but oblique, resulting in a film that’s beautiful to look at, but a tad baffling.
Love, death and the raging sea are harmonised into a heady whole in this Japanese drama.
General release. Check local listings for show times.