Desert of Namibia(Namibia No Sabaku)

21-year-old Kana works a disaffected job at a beauty salon, where the expectations placed on women her age are plain to see. In her personal life, her mood oscillates wildly between soaring highs and deep lows. Bored with her slavish boyfriend, she begins another relationship whose novel excitement soon evolves into an increasingly volatile disposition. Trapped with little promise of escape, Kana moves towards the inner desert of her emotions. Alternating between claustrophobic blocking and ample, expressive zooms and whip-pans, Yamanaka Yoko’s sophomore feature after Amiko (42nd) is a frank and dynamic examination of womanhood and mental health.

Cannes Directors’ Fortnight: FIPRESCI Prize

16/8 (Fri) & 18/8 (Sun): The director will attend the screening