Great Absence

A film shot in 35 mm and written by Chika-ura and Keita Kumano, it tells the story of the reunion between a father and a son who have been estranged for many years. Loosely inspired by the director's personal experiences, this feature film presents an emotional story about time, memory, and the fragility of life.

Since his father, Yohji, a retired teacher, shattered their family by divorcing his mother 20 years ago, actor Takashi has had no relationship with his father. They barely kept in touch, until one day, the police call Takashi regarding an issue related to his father, who has dementia. This leads him to visit his father's home in southern Japan. When he arrives, Takashi discovers that his father's second wife, Naomi, has disappeared. When he asks about her whereabouts, Yohji replies that she committed suicide. But Takashi is not so sure, and he must find out if his father is telling the truth.

Japanese director Kei Chika-ura presented his second film, 'Great Absence', in the Official Section of the 71st San Sebastián Festival, where it won the Silver Shell for Best Leading Performance (Tatsuya Fuji) and the 2023 Ateneo Guipuzcoano Award. It has also been showcased at other film festivals such as Toronto.

The cast includes Tatsuya Fuji ('In the Realm of the Senses', 'Towards the Light'), Mirai Moriyama ('Not All of Us Could Grow Up', 'Journey to Nara'), Yoko Maki ('Like Father, Like Son', 'After the Storm'), and Hideko Hara ('The Last 10 Years').