Toichi is a boatman who ferries the villagers to a town on the other side of the river. Besides rowing a boat for the villagers all day long, he barely communicates with anyone except Genzo, a young neighbour. Upstream, a large bridge is being constructed. Everyone is excited, but Toichi has mixed feelings about it. One day, Toichi meets a mysterious girl. Having no family and no place to go, Toichi lets her stay with him, but this encounter starts to bring about changes to Toichi's life.
Cinematography
Every frame looks like a faded Japanese watercolor come alive.
Acting
Akira Emoto's face tells entire novels without speaking.
Direction
Joe Odagiri's debut has the confidence of a master.
Director
Joe Odagiri
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Joe Odagiri originally wrote the screenplay in 2005 but shelved it, thinking he wasn't mature enough to direct it — he waited fourteen years.
The film deliberately evokes the 'mujo' aesthetic of impermanence in Japanese art, where beauty exists precisely because things pass away.
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