Program Note
Yumi and Ruka get to know each other after becoming roommates in a college dorm. Yumi is lethargic, while Ruka, the ambitious vocalist of a band, has a completely opposite personality. Despite their differences, a strange sense of connection begins to form between them. Their lives move at completely different rhythms, and though they often clash, they gradually blend into each other's worlds through sharing mundane daily moments. One day, Yumi happens to attend one of Ruka's performances and is struck by the sight of her commanding the stage like a rock star. As Ruka’s music begins to gain attention and she is eventually scouted by a major record label, cracks start to form in their relationship. Amidst jealousy and feelings of emptiness, Yumi gradually loses confidence, and her daily life begins to unravel. NEMURUBAKA: Hypnic Jerks seems to calmly depict 'ordinary youth', but it delicately captures the whirlwind of longing for success, fear of failure, and the imbalance in relationships that young people often face. There are no provocative action scenes or clichéd romances, but perhaps here lies the gentle jolt that so many of us—who resemble 'Yumi'—might need to be awakened. (Kani KIM)