Saikai Paradise

Keiko Tsuruoka’s wistful film features Kazunari Yanagitani as Kazu, an actor visiting his hometown, where he will have to confess a sad secret to his family. Saikai is a seaside municipality in Nagasaki prefecture — a place with charm, nice scenery, and not much going on. For Kazu, it’s a nice contrast with Tokyo, where he has gone to make his living. His family and his old community welcome his return visit, and he is loath to disappoint them, but the truth about his upcoming marriage will have to be told… Serving quadruple duty as writer, director, cinematographer, and editor, Tsuruoka (Tsugaru Lacquer Girl, VIFF 2023) maintains a breezy, casual tone throughout her film, though she’s equally adept at portraying moments of poignancy. Kazu is a man for whom a mellow exterior conceals depths of feeling, and his internal struggle is relatable and moving. Saikai Paradise is a graceful, winning film about the small, quiet moments that make up so much of our lives.