In this gentle, emotionally charged feature from Ryôta Nakano, Futaba, a strict but caring mother, has an awakening when she is told that she has terminal cancer. With a few months to live, Futaba lays out a plan that will allow her family to rally and carry on after she is gone.

Her to-do list includes tracking down the husband who deserted her and her daughter for another woman, and persuading him to come back now that his girlfriend has left him. Together, Futaba hopes they can restart the formerly popular bathhouse business they used to run. At the same time she’ll also need to rebuild her daughter’s confidence so she can stand on her own two feet and deal with school bullies.

With riveting, award-winning performances and a buoyant sense of humor, this Oscar® submission from Japan reminds us of the power of family.

In competition for the FIPRESCI Prize.