SHARA

Friday, October 20th - 5:00pm
Sunday, October 22nd - 9:40pm
Tuesday, October 24th - 4:30pm

(2003, 100min) North America Premiere
Note: This film has no English Subtitles. We apologize for the inconvinience.
Director: Naomi KAWASE
Cast: Kohei FUKUNAGA, Yuka HYODO, Katsuhisa NAMASE, Kanako HIGUCHI, Naomi KAWASE
"Official Selection" Cannes Film Festival
Director is also the winner of the Camera D’Or Prize at the Cannes Film Festival

The Asou Family has been living in the old town of Nara from generation to generation as ink makers. Asou Shun had a twin brother named Kei, but he mysteriously disappeared one day. Now a high school student, Shun has carried around a feeling of emptiness for years. Shun's romantic interest Yu Ito also struggles emotionally, with the image of her late mother. Shun's father and Yu's stepmother try to raise their spirits with affection to fill the holes in their lives, while the town is cheered up with the special Basara summer festival that mends peoples' hearts.

Shun's pregnant mother gives birth at home, with this new baby helping them to forgive and forget their pasts and move on together. Also working as cinematographer on her recent films, Kawase passionately presents a family saga set against the nature of Japan.