VICISSITUDE
Set against the sweeping landscapes of Kagoshima, this lyrical coming-of-age drama follows the emotional struggles and renewal of a 17-year-old high school baseball player. Aspiring professional player Gaku endures the harsh, militaristic discipline of his baseball team while grappling with strained relationships and mounting pressures. Encouraged by his gentle homeroom teacher and reunited with a childhood friend, he begins to rediscover memories of freedom and joy found in nature. As the seasons change, Gaku gradually finds healing, resilience, and a renewed sense of self.
A magnificent and haunting coming-of-age drama about conformity and the pressures of competition, the beauty of nature and the passing of time. The unique style is reminiscent of Terrence Malick’s The Tree of Life. Conceived over a ten-year period, this cinematic tone poem is an achingly beautiful meditation on youth, innocence and the nature of mindfulness.