Hokage

Piercing calls of Japanese hawks, nightmares of the fire bombings, dark alleys filled with the sick and nearly dead, and desperate people struggling to survive in the rubble, ruins of cities, and aftermath of the world war. Cruelty and addiction come back to bite you if such are your practices. The resourceful and clever survive. Just a little bit of kindness means the world to someone. Live your best life.

Natural light and movement flood the beautiful frames in Shinya Tsukamoto's trilogy focusing on a few individuals living in the shadow and fear of war. Tsukamoto answered questions following the North American premier of the film at the Toronto International Film Festival. Just looking into his eyes close by I could see he was thoughtful and imaginative. The form of the film combines with the themes in striking, heartfelt ways. It is a meditation on beauty, darkness, and living.