21/46
A repressed matriarch and unfortunately excessive circumstances – a disturbing earthquake, crushing debt, a dying ex-husband, an angry coworker and her son’s girlfriend – that push her to the edge. The title “Hamon” is a standard Japanese word that literally means “ripple” and metaphorically the effect we all have on others. This is emphasized several times in this film by scenes in which the principals – the wife, the husband, the son, etc. – stand in a shallow pond, and the waves starting from one character extend in the usual circular pattern to reach the others. It’s a pretty interesting visualization of interpersonal relationships, but nothing that couldn’t be applied to any film about people. The arc of the film follows the trials of a Japanese housewife who is forced to cope with the sudden disappearance of her husband, the death of the husband’s father, the flight. the only son off to college, then to a career as far away as one can travel without leaving Japan (well, except Okinawa), then the reappearance of said prodigal son as his husband. Among other things, between the events. It has a good dose of humor, quite a bit of bathos, a few awkward scenes with her deaf fiancé, whom her son brings home without any prior notice. I think it was worth watching even before the last scene, it was surprising, inspiring, invigorating, actually rather wonderful. Ole!