YOKO

42-year-old Yoko (KIKUCHI Rinko) leads a reclusive, penniless, and somewhat hopeless life in Tokyo. For 20 years, ever since her father objected to her chasing her dreams, she has held a grudge against him.

One day, Yoko is notified of her father’s passing, and so she reluctantly departs for her hometown of Hirosaki to attend his funeral, together with her cousin Shigeru (TAKEHARA Pistol) and his family. Along the way, however, Shigeru and his family become distracted, leaving Yoko stranded. Unable to call for help or pay for a train, Yoko decides to hitchhike the remainder of the journey, and as she travels, she encounters various people from all walks of life, including the ghost of her father. Will Yoko make it to the funeral on time? And can she reconcile her long-held grudge against her father?

Directed by KUMAKIRI Kazuyoshi, a familiar face at international film festivals, and featuring an ending theme by ISHIBASHI Eiko (Drive My Car) and Jim O’Rourke, YOKO is a raw and passionate depiction of one forty-something woman’s journey to come to terms with her past.

夢を失って以来、他人との密な関係を作らず生きる42歳の陽子のもとに、長年断絶していた父の死の知らせが入る。葬儀に参列するためしぶしぶ故郷の青森へ、従兄家族と帰ることにするが、途中のサービス・エリアで従兄たちとはぐれてしまう。所持金のない陽子はヒッチハイクで青森まで向かうが、さまざまな人との出会いが頑なだった陽子の心を溶かしていく。

(Special thanks to Eikoku News Digest)