Drama

Female Directors, Festival Award Winners, Gangsters & Outliers

Under the Open Sky

すばらしき世界

2021 / 126 minutes / Unclassified 15+

Old (yakuza) habits die hard

Life behind bars has hardened ex-yakuza Mikami (Kōji Yakusho). Released after his 13-year murder sentence, feeling overlooked and desperate for independence, he sets out to tell his story and find his long-lost mother by teaming up with young TV director Tsunoda.

Mikami’s brash attitude and altercations with the outside world provide plenty of drama for Tsunoda’s project, but friction grows behind the scenes. Returning to society tests Mikami’s patience, and reveals his skewed version of justice.

Yakusho’s (The Blood of Wolves and The Third Murder, JFF 2018) Silver Hugo winning performance is his career best, with compelling depth and inner torment supported by cast members Taiga Nakano and Masami Nagasawa (Masquerade Hotel, JFF 2019).

Under the Open Sky is director Miwa Nishikawa’s first foray into adaptation (Ryūzō Saki’s novel Mibunchо̄), and muses on ruptures in society and deep vulnerabilities. After apprenticing under Hirokazu Kore-eda (Shoplifters), Nishikawa has established a reputation for sophisticated and insightful dramas, including JFF 2016’s audience favourite, The Long Excuse.