The Mourning Forest NEW HORIZONS International Competition

Cast:
Yoichiro Saito (mąż Machiko), Kanako Masuda (Mako), Machiko Ono (Machiko), Shigeki Uda (Shigeki), Makiko Watanabe (Wakako)

Shigeki lives in a small retirement home. He feels comfortable and happy here with the other residents and the gentle and caring hospital staff. Machiko, one of the home's staff pays special attention to him. However she is secretly haunted by the loss of her child. After celebrating Shigeki's birthday Machiko decides to take him for a drive in the countryside. Making their way along the scenic back-roads the car is forced into a ditch by a land-slide and it is here that they embark on their journey of discovery together. As Shigeki determinedly heads off into the forest, Machiko has no choice but to follow. After two exhausting days trudging through the dense wood they finally arrive at Shigeki's wife's tomb.

IFF Cannes

I wanted to make this film because my grandmother was becoming slightly senile, and in today's world, these people are looked down upon somewhat, and pitied. We forget that it could happen to us someday. We also consider these people pitiful, whereas in fact, their soul has remained intact. They still have the soul of a human being, and human feelings, and we forget that feelings are something to be reckoned with.

Naomi Kawase