Okiku and the World

STORY

In the mid-19th century, Okiku, a young woman, lives in a tenement row house among ordinary people in the sprawling city of Edo – known as Tokyo today. Okiku lives with her father, Genbei, a former samurai, now reduced to a penniless ronin, whom she supports by teaching children to read and write in a temple school. Two Manure Men, Yasuke, and his newly recruited partner, Chuji, regularly visit Okiku’s tenement to collect the human manure from the outhouse the tenants share. Okiku, a young woman in her prime, seems to take a special interest in Chuji. After days of rain prevent Yasuke and Chuji from making their rounds, the tenement outhouse overflows. Enraged by the stink and the disgusting state of the outhouse, the tenants complain to the landlord. Just as their protests grow hostile, Yasuke and Chuji arrive, and everyone begs them to “take all this shit away.”

Director: Junji SAKAMOTO (阪本順治）
Casts: Haru KUROKI (黒木華), Kanichiro (寛一郎), Sosuke IKEMATSU (池松壮亮)
Drama - Drama/2022/B&W/90 min.
Japanese title: せかいのおきく
Japanese Theatrical Release: April 28, 2023

Film Festivals
- Rotterdam International Film Festival (2023)
- Japan Square Film Festival (Belgium) (2023)
- Jeonju International Film Festival (2023)
- Nippon Connection (Germany) (2023)
- Shanghai International Film Festival (2023)
- Midnight Sun Film Festival (Finland) (2023)
- New York Asian Film Festival (2023) *Star Asia Lifetime Achievement Award (for director Junji SAKAMOTO)
- Japannual - Japanese Film Festival in Vienna (2023)
- Japanese Film Festival Singapore (2023)
- Kaohsiung Film Festival (2023)
- Split Film Festival (2023)
- Barcelona Asian Film Festival (2023)
- Rabat International Author Film Festival (2023)
- Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival (2023)
- KINOTAYO festival de films japonais contemporains (2023)
- Helsinki Asian Film Festival (2024)
- Environmental Film Festival (2024)

Official Web Site

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Okiku and the World

STORY

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