Drama, Opening Film

Opening

Mom, Is That You?!

こんにちは、母さん

Directed by: Yoji Yamada
2023 / 110 minutes / Unclassified all ages

From the bustling streets of Tokyo to a mother’s nest: Yoji Yamada’s ode to family and love

Working amongst the so-called “elite” in bustling Tokyo, HR manager Akio finds himself seriously burnt out amidst work-related problems, his impending divorce and a strained relationship with his college-aged daughter, Mai. Seeking a reprieve from the stresses of modern life, Akio decides to pay a visit to his childhood home where his mother Fukue lives. But instead of the familiar matronly figure he’s used to, Akio is shocked when he is greeted by a transformed Fukue donning fashionable attire, and that’s not the biggest surprise… she seems to have fallen in love! As Akio spends more time at home and gets to know a side of his mother he’d never seen before, he gradually rediscovers what’s important in life – something he had long lost sight of. 

Heartfelt, wholesome and relatable, film veteran Yoji Yamada’s 90th film is a feelgood portrayal of intergenerational family in modern Japan. A recurrent actor in Yamada’s filmography, Sayuri Yoshinaga gives a moving performance as Akio’s mother Fukue, portraying the character with a gentleness and warmth that will touch the hearts of audiences on the other side of the screen. Also starring Yo Oizumi and Mei Nagano, this multilayered story captures the ever-evolving nature of family relationships, while shining a light on Japan’s fading downtown culture.