Odayaka / Odayakana Nichijo
Japan, USA / 2012 / 102 min.
Director: UCHIDA Nobuteru
[Introduction]
The eagerly awaited new film from UCHIDA Nobuteru, winner of the TOKYO FILMeX 2010 Grand Prize for his "Love Addiction", is a daring work that unflinchingly depicts people's reactions in the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake. Its protagonists are two families who live next door to each other in an urban apartment complex. Childless Yukako has nothing else to do everyday except wait for her husband's return from work. Troubled by conflicting information in the mass media and on the internet about the effects of radiation, her anxiety gradually intensifies. Meanwhile, housewife Saeko is shocked when her husband tells her soon after the earthquake that he is having an affair and eventually chooses the other woman over her. Saeko is left to care for their five-year-old daughter Kiyomi on her own, and becomes increasingly irritated by the indifference of teachers and other parents at her kindergarten toward the dangers of radiation... UCHIDA's pervasively taut direction creates a striking evocation of the uncertainty felt by Japanese to one degree or another following the disaster. SUGINO Kiki, who also produced the film, gives a powerful performance as Saeko who finds herself becoming isolated from the people around her due to her determination to protect her child. Watch out for an appearance by TERAJIMA Susumu in a memorable role.
UCHIDA Nobuteru
His feature-length film debut, the documentary "Pictorial Letters" (02) won the Special Jury Prize at the 2003 Pia Film Festival. It was Japan and abroad, and received a Special Mention in the Documentary Section of the 2004 Hong Kong International Film Festival. His first dramatic featurelength film, "Kazaana" (07) garnered high praise and won the 8th Tama New Wave Competition's Grand Prix and Best Actress Award, 3 awards at the 2008 Hiroshima Visual Exhibition including the Grand Prize, and the Special Jury Prize at the 2008 Pia Film Festival. It was also screened in the Dragons & Tigers Competition section of the Vancouver International Film Festival. His dramatic second feature, "Love Addiction" (10), won the Grand Prize at TOKYO FILMeX 2010.
