Maternal Awakening

Keep Listening. Practice. Practice. Yeah.

Heartbroken, I bought a bottle of wine and drank it walking home. A tipsy journey reconstructed using the Japanese traditional storytelling method "rakugo."

When Tsumire was young, she idolised her older brother, who was always surrounded by other girls, but her affection was met with disdain. As she grows up, the traces of his behaviour linger on. Told with understated, deadpan humour and creative animation, this slightly absurd coming-of-age tale broaches a variety of subjects – from cults and superstition to peer pressure and our self-image – with surprising sensitivity.

Directed by Japanese filmmaker Ryo Orikasa, this animated short was inspired by Henri Michaux’s book of poetry and drawings of the same name, about his experiences with mescaline. The film explores the limits of language and perception, creating connections between sound, meaning, shapes and movement.

Can we ever be freed from the "curse of love" that dictates "women must be pretty and fall in love"? A humorous and at times affecting chronicle of an artistic girl’s life and loves from elementary school, through university, into young adulthood.