Pieta In The Toilet

Do not be fooled by the title. Mentioning the words pieta and toilet in the same sentence might seem a bit blasphemous, but nothing is farther from the truth. ‘Pieta in the Toilet “engages you in an understated, sober manner which is so typical of the Japanese culture.

This film is the first fiction project by decorated documentary filmmaker Matsunaga DAISHI about a young man who learns that he has terminal cancer. The 28-year-old Hiroshi is a modest window cleaner, but that is not his passion. He has a lot of talent to paint, but not enough self-confidence to make a career of it. Only his drawing classes now connect him to his dream. After the bad news Hiroshi decides to just continue working and ignore his impending death as much as possible. When he can no longer ignore the symptoms, he uses his new friendships with other patients and the sassy student Mai to look for ways to enjoy life before it’s too late.

Although the premise is dark, the film surprises by its hopeful outlook on life. The tone of the film is determined by understated scenes in which the characters are faced with their mortality, interspersed with lighter scenes. The combination of a talented cast and stunning cinematography make “Pieta in the Toilet” an absolute must-see.

Cast: Yôjirô NODA, Rirî FURANKI, Kanji FURUTACHI, Saya ICHIKAWA

Award:

• Yôjirô NODA – Newcomer of the year- Award of the Japanese Academy

All images: © 2015 “Pieta In The Toilet”