Is it oneself or reality that has gone mad when a woman is asleep

By / MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network Editorial Department compiled and reported

The Japanese film [When a Woman Ascends the Stairs], directed for the first time by master director Wayne Wang, is set to be released on 7/8. The director’s previous works have mostly focused on Chinese themes, but this time he was drawn to the highly creative plot of a short story by Spanish writer Javier Marías. By a twist of fate, renowned Japanese director Takeshi Kitano read the synopsis and was deeply impressed, subsequently joining the production. The film, with its thrilling and artistic storyline, was also selected to be part of the 2016 Berlin International Film Festival’s Panorama section.

The film tells the story of struggling novelist Kiyoshi Shimizu (played by Hidetoshi Nishijima), whose debut novel became a huge success and brought him fame, but who has not had a successful work in years, leading to a stagnant relationship with his wife. Kiyoshi and his wife thus go to a countryside hotel for a vacation to unwind. At the same hotel, they notice a mysterious old-young couple—the over-fifty man Sōhara (played by Takeshi Kitano) and the beautiful young girl Mikki (played by Kanna Hashimoto)—whose intimate interactions are filled with strange and eerie atmosphere.

From that day on, their images linger in Kiyoshi’s mind. He begins to spy on their room and sees Sōhara gently shaving Mikki’s body hair with a razor, and discovers Sōhara’s secret habit of secretly photographing his sleeping girlfriend every night... Driven by curiosity and the thrill of possible crime, Kiyoshi gradually loses control. He follows the couple to an izakaya and uncovers their shocking past...

Osaka's new landmark ! Japan's tallest transparent Ferris wheel