Great Absence

Great Absence is a Japanese drama centered on the strained relationship between Takashi, an actor, and his father, Yohji, a retired university professor. The two have remained distant for two decades following the divorce of Takashi's parents. When Takashi travels to southern Japan after a police call, he finds his father suffering from dementia. Upon arrival, he learns that Yohji's second wife, Naomi, has gone missing. The plot follows Takashi as he attempts to determine if his father's claim that Naomi committed suicide is true, all while the two men navigate their shared history and fragmented memories.

The film was directed by Kei Chikaura, who also served as a producer and co-writer alongside Keita Kumano. The production was handled by CREATPS and features a cast including Mirai Moriyama, Tatsuya Fuji, Hideko Hara, and Yoko Maki. With a runtime of 152 minutes, the movie was released on July 12, 2024.