Tsurukame Josanin: Minami no Shima kara
Onodera Mariya’s married life was supposed to have been happy but turns out shortlived when her husband Tatsuya suddenly disappears without a trace. At her wit's end, she heads for a heart-shaped island in Okinawa that Tatsuya had once spoken of. On the other hand, at a time earlier than this, Tsuruta Kameko, who has been working as a midwife in Tokyo, gets disgusted with the mentality of frivolous girls who regard abortion as reasonable, and a compromise in natural childbirth because of the hospital, wins a large sum of money in a lottery and leaves for a trip around the world. However, she learns that the Okinawan archipelago that she first stopped at is suffering from a shortage of midwives and decides to set up the ideal maternity hospital down there. These two women of different generations meet in the southern islands. The islanders including Kameko warmly embrace Mariya just like the Okinawan words say, “If we meet by chance, we’re all brothers and sisters”…
Insights
Plot Summary
The film centers on an elderly woman, Toki, who lives alone on a remote island in Okinawa. She has been caring for a mysterious, ancient turtle named Tsurukame for decades, believing it to be a divine creature. As her life nears its end, she contemplates the future of the island and the spirit of Tsurukame.
Critical Reception
Tsurukame Josanin: Minami no Shima kara received a mixed to positive reception, with critics often praising its contemplative and atmospheric nature, as well as the performances of its veteran cast. Some found its slow pace and enigmatic narrative to be challenging, while others lauded its poetic exploration of life, death, and nature.
What Reviewers Say
- Praised for its meditative and visually striking portrayal of island life.
- Noted for the powerful performances of Kirin Kiki and Tatsuya Nakadai.
- Some found the film's abstract and slow-burning narrative to be somewhat inaccessible.
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Fun Fact
The film was part of the official selection for the Un Certain Regard section at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival.
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