RABU RAIFU

2022/ 123 min / color

Taeko leads a peaceful, family-oriented life with her husband Jiro and six-year-old Keita, her son from a previous marriage, in the new film by acclaimed Japanese director Kȏji Fukada. But one day a tragedy involving the boy shatters the equilibrium in the everyday existence of the family forever. In the wake of these events, Keita’s biological father returns from Korea after a long absence from Taeko’s life. He can’t quite come to terms with what has happened, and seems totally lost in Japanese society. The event, which would be devastating for any parent, paradoxically brings the two of them closer together, giving them an opportunity to understand their long-buried feelings. In this film Fukada tackles themes that are familiar from his previous work. He shows unbearable pain, guilt and helplessness as universal human feelings, creating a harrowing portrait of people trying to live life in the shadow of a tragedy. Love Life will resonate with viewers long after the screening, in large part for Fumino Kimura’s superb, nuanced performance.