

Two strangers steal a car and each other's loneliness in this forgotten Japanese road gem.
Tetsuaki's struggling to write a novel while his mother fades; Mitsuko's engagement has been forced upon her unwillingly; the two individuals run away to share their grief.
Cinematography
Dreamy coastal landscapes that swallow characters whole.
Acting
Koichi Sato's writerly stillness breaks your heart.
Director
Hōjin Hashiura
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Hashiura made this after assistant directing for Imamura; the raw documentary influence shows in the roadside encounters.
The film captures a specific 1980s Japanese malaise—economic growth hollowed out young people's traditional paths, leaving them literally driving nowhere.