Drama, Period

Shadow of Fire

ほかげ

Directed by: Shinya Tsukamoto
2023 / 95 minutes / Unclassified 18+

Three lost souls yearn for home amongst the ruins of war

In the immediate aftermath of World War II, a woman lives a meaningless day-to-day life, and earns money by offering the only thing she has left: her body. A wide-eyed orphan boy stumbles into the ramshackle bar she inhabits in search of food, desperate to survive through the pangs of wartime hunger. He is soon followed by a shell-shocked soldier who constantly asks for a meal and a night’s stay, but never pays. All three lost their family in the devastation of the war, and it’s not long before the trio find a home in each other, forming a precious bond. However, their happiness is destined to be short-lived, as the harsh ripple effects of war threaten their abode. The orphan then sets off with a black market street vendor who offers him a job, unaware of the man’s nefarious motives brought on by the wounds of war. 

Having gained worldwide recognition for masterpieces including Tetsuo: The Iron Man (1989) and Kotoko (2011), Shinya Tsukamoto delivers a powerful portrait of the lives of Japanese citizens in the post-war period with Shadow of Fire. Like many of his titles, the film was written, directed and produced by Tsukamoto himself, earning him a feature in the 80th Venice Film Festival and the award for Best Asian Feature Film by the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema. Talented child actor Oga Tsukao shines as the tenacious orphan witnessing the continuous chaos of war, while Shuri skilfully plays the emotionally complex role of the unnamed prostitute, who is motherly, headstrong and dignified. Covering themes of love, loss and perseverance, this tragic film is bound to burn a mark in the hearts and minds of many.