There Is a Stone

Tatsunari Ota, in his second full-length film, delicately sketches the portrait of two profoundly lonely people. She comes from Tokyo to a small provincial town. Is she searching for someone? Running away from something? Or did she come here for work, as she casually tells an elderly man she meets by chance? He keeps a journal, documenting the experiences of each day, capturing the tiniest, most mundane fragments of life. They accidentally meet by the riverside, in a paradise of those skipping stones on the water and those who send stone letters. After finding a unique stone, they decide to embark on a journey together. Tatsunari Ota maintains a sensitivity in portraying his characters reminiscent of his Bundesliga debut, but this time elevating the entire film to an almost experimental level. The deserted streets of Yamakita resonate with the inner lives of the characters. Their meditative journey, interrupted by a limited number of words, leads each of them to a different place. There is a Stone is one of those films that reflect upon its viewers like a mirror.