“A gut-wrenching masterpiece: a beautifully told and visually striking epic that compelled me to contemplate my own life. It will stand as a magnum opus alongside Kitano’s Hana bi and Kikujiro, a once-in-a-lifetime work of art.”
– IPM , Scotland Loves Anime review
The film has drawn international acclaim at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival where it drew comparisons to the work of Martin Scorsese and Takeshi Kitano.
The story follows Minoru, an elderly yakuza serving life in solitary confinement. Awaiting death in silence, he is confronted by an unlikely visitor—a talking balsam flower. “What a pathetic life,” The flower’s whispering prompts Minoru to revisit the regrets of his past. He recalls life in 1986, when he was living in a shabby apartment with a small family, before he was lured into taking the fall for another gangster’s crime. He sent letters but never heard from his family again. Now that his “life’s lamplight has just about flickered out,” Minoru attempts to discover what happened before it’s too late. As fragments of his life unfold, the film weaves a meditation on lost love, quiet prayers, and the delicate possibility of personal redemption. A powerful and thought-provoking masterpiece.
©︎ Kazuya Konomoto / The Last Blossom Production Committee
Lunch with your movie?
Bentos will be available from a local Japanese restaurant. Bento sales online for this movie will close June 11th at noon. Bento can still be purchased in person on the day of screening, supply will be limited.
Online Bento: $13 + HST
In-person Bento: $15 + HST
Dietary options:
- Regular (meat)
- Vegetarian
*No exchange or refund.
*Membership will be checked at the JCCC.
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