Rude to Love

Momoko lives the unexciting life of a Japanese housewife without children. She keeps the suburban house in order and makes sure her husband is well looked after on his way to work. She looks after her mother-in-law, who lives next door, and takes her rubbish to the neighbourhood rubbish tip every day, for which she has taken on a certain responsibility, as well as for the stray cats in the area. She keeps calling for Pi-chan, who seems to have gone missing. Constant arson in the neighbourhood worries her, but she finds distraction, recognition and variety in her soap-making courses. However, her tranquil life takes an abrupt turn when the basis of her contentment is abruptly taken away from her. From now on she is no longer prepared to play along and she - No more Mrs Nice Girl - gets herself a chainsaw. Rifts now open up, literally.

This is director Yukihiro MORIGAKI's fourth feature film and, after Goodbye, Grandpa (2017), also his most successful, which even screened in competition at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival. The psychotic atmosphere of his film can be attributed to the lead actress Noriko EGUCHI, who masters the balancing act between bland contentment and manic rage brilliantly. Her energy in supporting roles has already enhanced a number of films, including Undercurrent and Ripples (2023), Riverside Mukolitta (2022), My Name is Yours (2021) and Close-Knit (2017). She has one nomination each from the Hochi Film Awards (2022) and the Japan Film Academy (2021) for Best Supporting Actress. This year, she could add a few for Best Leading Actress. Her mother-in-law is played by Jun FUBUKI, known to many from Séance by Kyoshi KUROSAWA (2000), under whose direction she also appeared in other films.