A Girl Named Ann

KAGAWA Ann (KAWAI Yumi) has endured a traumatic childhood as a primary school dropout abused by her mother and forced to care for her grandmother. When she is one day interrogated on a charge of drug usage, the encounter takes a surprisingly constructive turn: detective TATARA (SATO Jiro), one of the interrogating officers, opts not to question Ann on the charges themselves, instead pleading with her to join his drug rehabilitation group.

At first, Ann is reluctant to open up to the group, but she gradually lowers her guard, even allowing TATARA to support her in finding a job, returning to school, and rebuilding her life. Soon enough, however, rumours of TATARA’s involvement in a scandal begin to circulate, and an all-too-familiar pandemic brings Ann’s fate into question.

Inspired by a true story, A Girl Named Ann is a painful, emotionally-charged film that sees director and previous JFTFP guest IRIE Yu question the idea of forcing upon individuals the responsibility for broader societal problems within inadequate support structures.

©2024 “A Girl Named Ann” Film Partners

母親からの虐待と祖母の介護を経験し、小学校で不登校になり孤独に生きる少女、杏。薬物使用容疑で取り調べを受けるも、刑事の多々羅は罪を問わず、杏をリハビリ・グループへ誘う。心を閉ざしていた杏は、徐々に支援を受け入れるが、多々羅のスキャンダルの噂やパンデミックのため、杏の未来は再び揺らぎ始め……。社会問題と支援の限界を描く実話を基にした感動作。

(Special thanks to Eikoku News Digest)