さざなみに揺れる手

After spending 13 years in prison for committing murder, Yoko is released and is reunited with her daughter Akari, who was raised in a children’s home. Now, the two begin a new life together in Akari’s home in a quiet port town. As if trying to make up for the years lost, the mother and daughter slowly begin to reconnect despite the unease they feel toward one another. The film offers a meticulous portrayal of a woman striving to become a mother again while confronting the weight of her past crime, and of a daughter caught between love and resentment. Fragments of everyday life, and performances that carry simmering emotions under a quiet façade subtly bring each character’s inner turmoil to the surface. This, along with the scenery of the port town in the latter part of the film, results in a deeply resonant emotional experience.

A heartfelt work by director Eiki Kawakami who studied filmmaking at ENBU SEMINAL, both the direction and screenplay of this mid-length drama are imbued with sincerity, offering a glimpse into what forgiveness and renewal mean in the modern age.