Being Natural

Taka is a saint. A simple but loveable fellow who never seems to demand anything of anybody, save perhaps just a bit of tranquility. Jobless, he loves to play the bongos while gazing up at the stars, when not taking care of his uncle, a difficult old man with dementia whose entire family appears to have written him off. This peaceful existence capsizes overnight when his uncle dies, and Taka-san’s ancestral home is bequeathed to the family elder who, instead of kicking him out, offers him a job. It’s a rural paradise… until a couple from Tokyo moves into town. Enthusiasts of open spaces and a nature-centric life, they’re determined to open a coffee shop in the neighbourhood, damned be the cost… (Fantasia International Film Festival)