50/21
This is underlined several times in this film, in scenes where the main characters – woman, man, son, etc
Synopsis
An oppressed matriarchy and unfortunately exaggerated circumstances – a disturbing earthquake, crushing debts, a dying ex-husband, an angry colleague and her son’s girlfriend – all push her to the brink. The name “Hamon” is a standard Japanese word that literally means “waves” and metaphorically describes the influence each of us has on others.
Or indeed any living organism
– stand in a shallow pond and the ripples emanating from one character spread out in the usual circular pattern to reach the others. Quite an interesting visualization of human relationships, but nothing that could not be applied to any film with people.
Among other things
The film follows a plot arc that follows the travails of a Japanese housewife dealing with the sudden disappearance of her husband, the death of her husband’s father, her only son running away to college and then a career in the most remote area possible (well, Okinawa excluded), and then having to deal with the reappearance of said lost husband. There’s plenty of humor, plenty of pathos, some awkward scenes with a deaf fiancé who her son brings home unnoticed.
I think it was worth seeing even before the final scene, which was surprising, gripping, heartwarming, actually quite amazing
Ole!
