Directed by: Yuko Hakota
2019
/ 92 minutes
/ Unclassified 15+ (under 15s must be accompanied by an adult)
A whimsical and bittersweet homecoming
30-year-old Sunada (Kaho) seems to have it all: a successful career as a director for TV commercials, a kind husband, and a stylish Tokyo home far from her rural hometown. Behind the scenes, however, she’s having an affair with a married industry senior, is disconnected from her aloof partner, and grows increasingly anxious about the longevity of her career in an industry with little space for women at the top. Memories of a simpler time spent running in muddy fields and napping on tatami mats draw Sunada to her backwater Ibaraki hometown for an overdue visit to her frail grandma.
Spurred along by her free-spirited friend Kiyoura (Eun-Kyung Shim; Train to Busan), Sunada’s impulsive Ibaraki homecoming proves just as complicated as her Tokyo life. Between the strained family relationships, the roots of her complex identity slowly come into focus.
Blue Hour is a sensitive and artistic debut feature film from director Yuko Hakota, revealing complex nuances of intimacy across relationships and the passing of time.
Event Cinemas George Street, Sydney
The Capitol, Melbourne
Blue Hour (ブルーアワーにぶっ飛ばす)
6:30 pm Saturday, 16 November 2019
While men still largely dominate the film industry, female directors are carving out a space for themselves. This is especially true for writer/director Yuko Hakota, who began her career directing Japanese and international television commercials. Using her hometown as the backdrop for her debut film, Hakota highlights the unrealistic gender expectations pervasive in modern society.
Director: Yuko Hakota
Screenplay: Yuko Hakota
Producer: Hideki Hoshino
Cast: Kaho and Eun-Kyung Shim
Genre: Slice of Life
Format: DCP colour