North American Premiere
Yuiga Danzuka’s feature debut is a hushed, evocative exploration of family and the contemporary city. Beginning 10 years in the past, a family vacation ends in ruin when architect Hajime (Kenichi Endo) departs early for a work opportunity in Tokyo. In the present, Hajime is a widower and estranged from his two children: his son Ren (Kodai Kurosaki) delivers for a florist; his daughter Emi (Mai Kiryu) is contemplating marriage. When one of Ren’s deliveries takes him to the offices of Hajime’s firm, an awkward process of reunion begins…
Crucial to Danzuka’s film is Tokyo itself, which operates as both setting and a symbol of Hajime’s indifference: The concrete overpasses, bright lights, and sterile architecture suggest an obliterated past, a troubled present, and an uncertain future. The parallels between city and family are strong, and the patriarch’s current contract — an urban renewal project that will displace homeless people — bolsters Danzuka’s critique. Amid the silence and stillness, catharsis will take place as characters discover what they truly value.
Supported by
Media Partner
Kodai Kurosaki, Kenichi Endo, Haruka Igawa, Mai Kiryu
Japan
2025
In Japanese with English subtitles
At International Village
At Fifth Avenue
Book Tickets
Credits & Director
Executive Producer
Takashi Homma, Kosuke Kaneko, Tetsujiro Yamagami
Producer
Kenji Yamagami
Screenwriter
Yuiga Danzuka
Cinematography
Koichi Furuya
Editor
Uichi Majima
Production Design
Satoshi Nanogaki
Original Music
Ryo Teranishi
Yuiga Danzuka 団塚唯我
Born in Tokyo in 1998, Yuiga studied at Keio University’s Faculty of Environment and Information Studies, later graduating from the Film School of Tokyo, where he studied under Kunitoshi Manda and screenwriter Takashi Ujita. In 2022, he wrote and directed the short film Far, Far Away for the ndjc (New Directions in Japanese Cinema) Young Filmmaker Development Project. Brand New Landscape is Yuiga’s debut feature, making him the youngest Japanese director ever to be featured at Directors’ Fortnight at Cannes.
Filmography: Far, Far Away (2022)
Missing VIFF? Check out what's playing at the VIFF Centre
Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World
Sasha Waters' documentary takes us through the life of America's best-selling late twentieth century poet, a private woman who shared her innermost thoughts and made them indispensable.
Saving Private Ryan
Steven Spielberg's gripping war movie was hailed as an instant classic in 1998, and he won his second Academy Award in five years for Best Director. Matt Damon takes the title role, Tom Hanks is charged with bringing him home from the front.
Palimpsest: The Story of a Name
Drawing on home movies and diaries from the 1930s, 40s, 50s and 60s, Canadian filmmaker Mary Stephen (Eric Rohmer's editor for many years) investigates the origins of her surname. After all, she was born in Hong Kong to Chinese parents. Or were they... ?
Buffalo '66
Vincent Gallo's directorial debut is an eccentric, provocative comedy which laces a poignant love story with both a sombre, washed-out naturalism and surreal musical vignettes. This one is something different...
Run Lola Run
In the hyper intense world of pre-millennial Berlin, Lola has just 20 minutes to come up with a 100,000 Deutchmarks or her boyfriend cops it. He's asking the right woman: Lola won't stop til she's saved the day... It's Speed, in the multiverse...