Memorizu

Memorizu is a beautifully understated debut from Japanese director Miiku Sakanishi, gently observing a devoted father reluctantly adapting to a spell apart from his family.

Yuta goes to a rural town in Kyushu to help his injured father-in-law and records fragments of daily life, sharing photos and videos with his wife and daughter back in Tokyo. Repeated rhythms of everyday routine elevate little details to profound moments of insight, which bring the characters’ lives vividly to light.

“The film feels like a warm hug as it reminds us to slow down, take it all in, and preserve as many memories as we can, whether through our own quiet experiences or ones we share with others. Sakanishi shows such remarkable confidence in his feature debut that he’s already made himself one to watch in the future.” — Ema Sasic, Next Best Picture