6.2/10 The film maintains a consistent narrative as a story of a mother exposed to the disappearance of her beloved daughter, the breakdown of relationships, and the heartless words of society. Ishihara's performance is compelling, with the police station scene being a highlight. The deliberate lack of dramatic ups and downs in the plot is effective in its somber tone, but it also feels somewhat lacking as a film. However, I quite liked the way the film concludes and the series of conversations in relation to its themes.

Director Yoshida's films tend to escalate from a single incident, sharpening human relationships towards a negative direction, resulting in a sense of gloom, depression, and melancholy, and this film is no exception.

The protagonist couple's mental state deteriorates due to the unexplained disappearance of their beloved daughter, and they become irritated by the malice and differing perspectives of others. However, because the direct cause remains unclear, their anger is always accompanied by a sense of emptiness, like fighting a battle alone.

As these unexpressed emotions pile up, the situation doesn't progress, and a daily life with something missing continues-this suffocating feeling permeates the entire film, and the deadlock that never dramatically resolves is painful.

Satomi Ishihara plays the mother, who has become dysfunctional as a person due to being exposed to such an environment, with undeniable conviction, and this is a major factor in making this film.

Every scene is good, but the scene at the police station, with her seizure-like body movements and the way she speaks as if her rationality has snapped, was particularly outstanding.

The subplot, centered on reporting on the disappearance case, touches upon the harmfulness of exposing the facts while ignoring human dignity, and cruelly highlights the difference in perspective between those directly involved in the problem and third parties.

I believe the "difference in perspective" that the protagonist repeatedly mentions is one of the core elements of this film. Everyone is a third party to someone else's problem, and if we interpret that as "someone who cannot lead to a solution," then even the mother falls into that category.

In the somber silence, the warmth of that moment fades away. The way it concludes, as if to say that this is what getting used to it means, and accepting it, is sadly honest.

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The mystery genre features the investigation and solving of a puzzle, typically a crime or an enigmatic event. Mysteries are known for their suspenseful narratives, intricate plots, and the challenge they present to readers or viewers to piece together clues and solve the central mystery alongside the characters.

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A girl vanishes while walking, leaving her family devastated. As months pass without clues, rumors about her mother's actions intensify online, straining her marriage.

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