This week's Top Story is dedicated for this delicate masterpiece of
documentary director Naomi Kawase.

Read full story at: http://hanami.ath.cx/naomi_kawase_shara.html

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Spiritual director depicts family trauma and recovery

Everyone has heard of Naomi Kawase - artistic and established director of
movies such as Katatsumori, Hotaru and Tsuioku no dansu. Sharasojyu, (aka.
Shara) seems to be so far most evolved and intimate production of Kawase.
Scenery of Nara is photographed very beautifully. And in the peak of the
movie, omatsuri festival and the dance in the rain is perhaps most wonderful
ever seen display of Japanese expression of joy and life.

SharaBrother of Shun disappeared ten years ago. Out of blue, nowhere to be
found. And he doesn't come back. The movie depicts trauma in Japanese family
and the recovery process. Now, the mother, Reiko is expecting a child. And
summer festival, omatsuri is coming, who's organizer happens to be father of
the family. That's when Shun meets the young girl Yu, who's mother is also
involved with omatsuri.

The attention seems naturally turn to Shun. Through his artwork he expresses
longing for his long lost brother. He loves Yu silently. Kohei Fukungaga (as
Shun) is a wonderful actor. Acting extremely little, he conveys extremely
much. It is such a joy to watch his performance. Although Katsuhisa Namase's
performance as Taku, the father, was not entirely satisfying, he had his
moments too. His speech in the opening procession of the festival is enough
to bring tears. The things left unsaid convey most. Between the lines you
can feel the existing of Japanese spirit, atmosphere of the people. You can
almost feel them breathing.

Naomi Kawase has a talent for acting too as also seen in her earlier films.
She is extremely convincing as pregnant mother Reiko. She gives this movie
the final realistic feel. This movie perfectly lacks everything
unnecessary - decoration or Hollywoodistic unnatural drama.