Odayaka

Of all the films we have ever shown at this festival, Odayaka probably touches the soul of Japanese society the most.

Although this gripping story begins with the tsunami and in its aftermath the nuclear disaster in Fukushima, the focus is mainly on the seemingly stoic way in which the Japanese people dealt with this crisis. At least apparently for us Westerners who sometimes react with amazement and dismay to that typical Japanese serenity. In the days and weeks that followed, the Japanese population simply continued their quiet, everyday lives. That is also the Japanese title of this film: odayaka na nichijô means something like the calm daily life, as if nothing is wrong.

It is this irony that director Uchida and his producer and leading actress Sugino Kiki wanted to expose with this psychological drama about two neighbours who have difficulty overcoming their fear. Both feel gradually alienated in their relationship, their family and their society due to the lack of understanding of their environment. The camerawork also feels very documentary, which only benefits the intimate realism of this rock-solid drama.

All images: © 2012 “Odayaka”