Satoko and her husband are forever connected to Hikari, the 14-year-old high school pupil that gave birth to Asato, their adopted son. Today, Asato is 6 years old and the family lives happily in Tokyo. But Hikari, who wants to regain contact with the family, is determined to get them all back together...
Adapted from the 2015 novel by Mizuki Tsujimura that succeeded in sparking a nationwide discussion on the topic of adoption in Japan, Asa Ga Kuru (True Mothers) is a story seen from two sides: the first is that of a well-off, middle-aged couple who live in Tokyo and the second is that of their adopted child's adolescent mother, forced to give up her baby by her conservative parents. A complex story interspersed with flashbacks that Naomi Kawase handles with exceptional clarity and lots of humility.
We are once again witness to the director's impressionistic and sensory style through scenes bathed in hazy light and shots of translucent landscapes. A humanistic interpretation of a captivating story and a superb performance by actress Haju Makita, who brings Hikari's spiralling descent to life.