Bare Essence of Life:
Ultra Miracle Love Story

2009, 120 min., 35 mm, color, in Japanese with English subtitles. Directed by Satoko Yokohama. With Kenichi Matsuyama, Kumiko Aso, Seiji Nozoe.

"Very unexpected and magical moments." – Bob Turnbull, J-Film Pow Wow

"The darling of new Japanese cinema, Satoko Yokohama confirms her talent and brilliant originality." – Hawaii International Film Festival

A man’s head sprouts in a cabbage patch as human and vegetable life merge… This fantastical art house tale of love and twisted evolution follows the wanderings of Yojin (superstar Kenichi Matsuyama, of Death Note fame), a young man afflicted with an unnamed but exotic mental handicap. Yojin works with his grandmother on their small organic vegetable farm, organizing his life according to a manic system of alarm clocks and bewildering gulfs of logic. This gently messy existence would continue if not for Miss Machiko, a cute school teacher retreating to the countryside after the decapitation of her philandering boyfriend in a freak traffic accident. Yojin resolves to change his life to earn her love and what results is a truly miraculous turn of events bending not only social norms, but also reason and reality.

Part of Japan Cuts: Festival of Contemporary Japanese Cinema

TICKETS
$12 / $8 Japan Society members, seniors & students

Buy Tickets Online or please call the Japan Society Box Office at (212) 715-1258, Mon. – Fri. 11 am – 6 pm, Weekends 11 am – 5 pm.