Yoko (Rinko Kikuchi) is a hikikomori doing online work and never leaving her apartment in Tokyo until one day her cousin turns up to tell her that her father from Aomori has died and the funeral is tomorrow, 658km to the north. Her mobile phone has broken so she wasn't answering calls. The cousin, his wife and their children offer to take her to Aomori. Along the way they stop at a service station. Yoko becomes separated from the cousin's family and ends up hitchhiking the rest of the way, and it's the distressing hike which is 90% of the film.
Along the way she meets the whole range of humanity, but the main progression is herself. From the hikikomori who barely speaks, to the important soliloquy about life near the end.
Like a lot of Japanese films, it's quite slow paced (though not boring). Kikuchi is excellent, although possibly too good looking for this grim role. Sawa Nimura was also good. Also Joe Odagiri as the ghostly father figure, and the bickering but loving old couple.
Along the way she meets the whole range of humanity, but the main progression is herself. From the hikikomori who barely speaks, to the important soliloquy about life near the end.
Like a lot of Japanese films, it's quite slow paced (though not boring). Kikuchi is excellent, although possibly too good looking for this grim role. Sawa Nimura was also good. Also Joe Odagiri as the ghostly father figure, and the bickering but loving old couple.
