Aru Sendo no Hanashi
2019 / 137m - Japan
Drama, Mystery
4.5*/5.0*
They Say Nothing Stays the Same poster

Plot: The film follows Toichi, an old ferryman who spent his entire life bringing people from one side of the river to the other. Progress never stops, and they're building a bridge just a little further upstream, hoping to make it easier for villagers to cross the river. The bridge will render Toichi's work obsolete, even so he continues to do the only thing he's ever been good at. His life is turned upside down when a young girl drifts against his boat. She has lost her memory and doesn't remember how she got t

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July 28, 2021

4.5*/5.0*

Impressive second "debut" from Joe Odagari. Though he clearly benefited from his industry connections (Nagase, Aoi & Asano in the cast, Christopher Doyle behind the camera), it's equally obvious Odagari had a clear vision for his first feature. I hadn't expected such a slow and deliberate film, but the result is a tremendous mood piece that captivated me from the very start and didn't let go until the last credit had disappeared from the screen. I just hope this isn't Odagari's last film as a director.