Eri Makihara

In a town that seeks to attract minorities, the Koga family has lived for many years with a deaf father and brother. One day, a Kurdish family moves into the town, and a small misunderstanding leads to conflict between the two families. Called upon to mediate are Natsumi, the only hearing member of the Koga family, and Hiwa, the only one in the Kurdish family who speaks Japanese. As the two begin to develop feelings for each other, tensions between their families only deepen. Then one day, a doodle drawn by Shun, Natsumi’s younger brother, escalates the small clash into an issue that involves the entire town.

Documentary without audio produced by deaf people. Music is depicted visually with the complete absence of musical instruments or voices. Directed by Makihara Eri and choreographer Dakei. With a diverse lineup including ordinary deaf people with zero acting experience and a choreographer who performs in Japan and abroad, this film pulls out all the tops to give visual expression to music through the physical body. An aging man uses multiple sign language poems to convey the four seasons, and a girl expresses the wind amidst the rustling trees.