Running Time: 95 Minutes
Certification: 12a
Starring: Lily Franky, Ryo Nishikido, Tae Kimura, Rin Takanashi, Aoife Hinds, Ciarán Hinds, Yuri Tsunematsu
In Tokyo, Kenzaburo (Lily Franky) goes about his day with a clear disinterest on his face. He is journeying through life in a daze, struggling to move forward as he faces life without his deceased wife, Akiko (Tae Kimura). As the writer settles down to have octopus and beer, a staple of their anniversary, he is left with happy memories of their first date which feels like so long ago. This is just the beginning of Cottontail, the feature debut of writer/director Patrick Dickinson which captures the struggle to open up about what is haunting you.
Emotional honesty is not easy for Kenzaburo, as his issues remain unspoken while he remains stuck in place, to the distress of his adult son, Toshi (Ryo Nishikido). The pair are soon surprised when they receive a letter, written by Akiko years ago, detailing her last wish. Regretful that their family never travelled to Lake Windermere in England, Akiko's favourite place as a child, she asks that the father and son journey there to scatter her ashes.
Interspersed within the narrative are flashbacks to the core relationship, capturing a life that has passed by in the blink of an eye. Their first meeting shows how their relationship blossomed so lovingly, yet these carefree days transition into heavier worries regarding dementia. At the centre of this is a couple that compliment each other, whether it is Kenzaburo pretending to have bunny ears to charm his adoring partner, or Akiko loving her partner's books that he laments go unread. It is easy to buy into their romance, which gives way to sadness as life hits them in unfortunate ways.
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Anchoring this story is Lily Franky, who gives a heartbreaking performance as the widower lost in his own grief. He is left feeling powerless as his wife endures such painful times, yet struggles to open up about his own fears and issues. As a result, the relationship with his adult son has grown strained, with Kenzaburo worrying that his son does not want him around, while Toshi does not realize how deeply his dad is hurting.
It is all part of this well-acted piece, capturing a father struggling with the loss of his rabbit-loving wife, and the resulting impact upon his son. It may not be a story which breaks new ground, yet it is delivered in effective fashion. Cottontail is a terrific debut which captures love enduring in bittersweet ways.
Cottontail is available in cinemas now
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