The Water Flows To The Sea Brings The Waves To Shore (JFF)

As a film student, my unsaid duty, the unwritten rule of my life is to attend the various film festivals that grace the shores of my country, Malaysia. Now I confess, the film festivals in Malaysia that interested me are few and far between. That being said, I am late to the party where the Japanese Film Festival (JFF) is concerned.

The characters from the film.

Not to reveal my age, but I am young enough to call the original Jurassic Park a "childhood movie" of mine. The JFF has been gracing Malaysian shores for 19 years now and upon attending my first movie experience at GSC Cinemas I have to say that this has been one of the best experiences of 2023 for me. There is no feeling like the cinema filled with cinephiles who strike up conversations with complete strangers after a film is done to build that sense of community. Personally, this is a feeling that has been scarce in my numerous experiences watching films in cinemas in my home country of Malaysia.

The film I was fortunate enough to catch was The Water Flows To The Sea (2023) directed by Tetsu Maeda. It was quite the experience. It was quiet and contemplative but also funny with an edge of romance slathered over its cinematic blade that pierced the hearts of the audience as every beat of the film landed as intended and it felt like such a complete and satisfactory experience I would gladly pay for another ticket again to repeat the whole thing over again.

The film explores the concept of 'shared housing' and its commonplace usage in Japan's culture whilst also including thematic nuggets of culture like Manga in the character's lives and themes. The set design was phenomenal and the colouring was stylised but not to the film's detriment. It towed the line of being a stylised look at Japan, but still keeping the originality and realism of its surroundings present.

Overall, this is an experience I'd wish on everyone I meet because it was a phenomenal experience in my book and I fully intend to watch all the films in the festival programme and I will keep my eyes peeled for next year when the JFF returns for its 20th year in Malaysia. Thank you all for reading, and till the next one!