Drama

Born Bone Born

洗骨

Directed by: Toshiyuki Teruya
2018 / 111 minutes / Unclassified 15+ (under 15s must be accompanied by an adult)

A dysfunctional family comes together for an unorthodox Okinawan tradition

Set on Aguni, an island 60 kilometres northwest of Okinawa’s capital, Naha, Born Bone Born provides viewers a glimpse of a little-known Okinawan funerary ritual. Four years after Emiko’s death, her family reunites to participate in her senkotsu (bone washing) ceremony. Since her death, her widowed husband has become an alcoholic and her daughter is heavily pregnant and facing life as a single mother. Nothing has been easy for the family since Emiko died, and now they are forced to deal with each other’s problems in addition to their own.

Born Bone Born is a film at once unnerving and poignant, beautifully strange and universally human. Based on Teruya Toshiyuki’s short film born, bone, boon, Born Bone Born takes a melancholic story and deftly spins it into a light-hearted, comedic drama about the foibles of family, and how they will always be there for you in the end—even if they have to be dragged, kicking and screaming.

Screened as part of JFF 2019
Screening as part of JFF 2021 Satellite program

Born Bone Born won the Audience Award at JAPAN CUTS 2018.

Friday 3rd September
19:30
Concluded

Bookings open xx

Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre, Bunbury

Sunday 3rd October
17:00
Concluded

Bookings open 15 September

Jetty Memorial Theatre, Coffs Harbour

Screens in: Bunbury, Coffs and Harbour

Director: Toshiyuki Teruya

Screenplay: Toshiyuki Teruya

Producer: Masakazu Takahata and Keisuke Konishi

Cast: Eiji Okuda, Michitaka Tsutsui and Ayame Misaki

Genre: Drama