Program Note
Tatsumi, a corpse cleaner for the yakuza, discovers that Aoi, the younger sister of his ex-girlfriend Kiyoko, has stolen drugs from the yakuza. At Kiyoko's request, Tatsumi hides Aoi's theft. However, the yakuza believe Kiyoko's husband is the thief and kill him. Tatsumi and Aoi accidentally witness the murder and manage to save Kiyoko, but she eventually dies. Stricken by the death of Kiyoko, who was a special person to both of them, Aoi resolves to seek revenge, and Tatsumi stays by her side.
Through these sudden events, Tatsumi begins to reflect on himself. As he spends time with the unruly and reckless Aoi, he starts to change. Aoi, too, grows up, leaving her immature days behind. The depiction of the protagonists' growth, despite following a plot of tragic revenge, is the most striking aspect of this work. The compelling and solid performances of the actors, combined with the direction of Shoji Hiroshi, who was previously invited to BIFAN with his debut film Ken and Kazu (2016), make this new work noteworthy. (Martin LEE)