Naoko Ogigami
127 min mins
Schoolgirl Tomo lives a chaotic life with her mother Hiromi, who one day abandons her to chase after a man. Left on her own, Tomo heads to her uncle’s apartment, where she finds him living with his beautiful girlfriend Rinko, a transgender woman. Rinko is warm and welcoming, and Tomo begins to realise that this is what a family should feel like. The three of them settle into a new lifestyle, but is society ready to accept their blissful existence? Directed by Naoko Ogigami, Close-Knit offers a sensitive portrayal of family life, and won numerous awards including the Teddy Jury Award and Panorama Audience Award at the 67th Berlinale, and audience awards at the Udine Far East Film Festival.
Naoko Ogigami is a Japanese director whose works have screened internationally. Her 2006 film Kamome Diner became a huge hit, while MEGANE – Glasses (2007) earned attention at several film festivals including Sundance, Hong Kong, Berlin, and San Francisco. Rent-a-Cat (2012) was featured in the Panorama section of the 62nd Berlin International Film Festival.
This screening is organised in partnership with the Japan Foundation, with support from Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation, Daiwa Foundation and Japan Society.