A Bold and Realistic Portrayal of Civilian Life and Relationships on the Brink of War's End

The novel of the same name by Akutagawa Prize-winning author Yuichi Takai was published in 1983 and received the Junichiro Tanizaki Prize. The story focuses not on the battlefield, but on the people living through the era of war. Set in Tokyo near the end of the war, it delicately and realistically depicts the lives of ordinary people.

The film is directed by Haruhiko Arai, a screenwriter known for his portrayals of romanticism between men and women in works such as 'Vibrator' and 'Kyokubai.' This is his passionate directorial effort, his first in 18 years since 'Mimo Kokoro.'

Fumi Nikaido plays the lead role of Satoko. She brilliantly embodies the inner conflict of a young woman drawn into a forbidden love with Ichimo, a married man, amidst the extreme conditions of war, exuding an overwhelming presence. Hiroki Hasegawa plays Ichimo, a man torn between his family and his passionate desire for Satoko. The cast also includes a stellar lineup of accomplished actors such as Yuki Kudo, Yasuko Tomita, Renji Ishibashi, and Eiji Okuda.




In the film, Satoko recites Noriko Ibaraki's poem 'When I Was Most Beautiful,' a representative work by a female poet of the post-war era. The world of the poem, written based on her experiences at age 19 when the war ended, resonates with Satoko's strong and straightforward emotions, leaving a profound impression.

'Will I Die in an Air Raid, Without Ever Knowing Love?'

In 1945, on the eve of the war's end, 19-year-old Satoko lives with her mother in Suginami Ward, Tokyo. While living diligently amidst the constant fear of air raids, rising prices, and the scarcity of food, she resides next door to Ichimo, a bank branch manager who has sent his family away.

Although Satoko is of marriageable age, marriage seems unlikely under the current circumstances. She wonders if she will die without ever experiencing love. As she takes care of Ichimo's daily needs, her feelings gradually transform into joy, awakening the woman within her.



'Our Homeland, Our Sea'
Nationwide release starting Saturday, August 8th, at THEATRE SHINJUKU, MARUNOUCHI TOEI, CINE-LIBRE IKEBUKURO, and other theaters.
Director & Screenplay | Haruhiko Arai
Original Novel | Yuichi Takai 'Our Homeland, Our Sea' (Shinchosha Publishing)
Cast | Fumi Nikaido, Hiroki Hasegawa, Yuki Kudo, Yasuko Tomita
Distribution | Phantom Film, KATSU-do
2015 / Japan / 130 minutes
http://kuni-sora.com


©2015 "Kono Kuni no Sora" Production Committee