Following the Sound

『 彼方のうた』
Kanata no Uta

North American Premiere. The latest feature from Kyoshi Sugita (Haruhara-san’s Recorder) is a film of repose, quietly serene and introspective. Haru (An Ogawa), a bookstore clerk, holds tightly to her cassette player which plays recordings of her late mother, encountering both Yukiko and Tsuyoshi in her daily routines. Whether drawn together by chance, deliberate choice or mere happenstance, they share a familiar sense of solace in their everyday lives. A film of stillness and quotidian beauty, Following the Sound features all the hallmarks of Sugita’s lyrical stylings. 

Dir. Kyoshi Sugita, 2023, 84 min., DCP, color, in Japanese with English subtitles. With An Ogawa, Yuko Nakamura, Hidekazu Mashima.

Part of JAPAN CUTS: Festival of New Japanese Film 2024
July 10—21, 2024

JAPAN CUTS is the largest showcase of contemporary Japanese cinema in North America and an annual highlight of New York’s cinema scene.

Image: © 2023 Nekojarashi Inc.

Japan Society programs are made possible by leadership support from Booth Ferris Foundation and the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. Film programs are generously supported by ORIX Corporation USA, public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, Anime NYC and Yen Press. Endowment support is provided by the Lila Wallace-Reader’s Digest Endowment Fund and The John and Miyoko Davey Endowment Fund. Additional season support is provided by The Globus Family and Friends of Film. Transportation assistance is provided by Japan Airlines, the official Japanese airline sponsor of Japan Society Film. Housing assistance is provided by the Prince Kitano New York, the official hotel sponsor of Japan Society Film.