After five decades of developing an open-door approach to mental health care based on community and empathy, 82-year-old Dr. Yamamoto is about to retire from his practice to care for his wife Yoshiko. Renowned Japanese director Kazuhiro Soda—whose previous film Inland Sea Bong Joon-ho himself described as “quietly heartbreaking”—records his last consultations with his patients, who are anxious about the loss of the beloved doctor they’ve depended on for so long. Gracefully capturing significant gestures and expressions, Soda shows the affection, trust and sadness at the heart of these relationships, before turning his attention to Yamamoto’s personal life. The bond between the old man and his wife is infused with the same loving patience, as the couple finds new routines and harmony in their twilight years. Full of wisdom and poetic imagery, Zero is an indelible portrayal of human frailty and kindness, and a masterpiece of compassionate filmmaking. Charlotte Selb
This film includes a pre-recorded Q&A.
Co-presented with Japan Foundation, Toronto
World Showcase program sponsored by
MEDIA COVERAGE
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- POV - "Raw, real and emotional"