MAHOROBA

A salaryman, referred to as “Me,” endures relentless abuse from his large, bald, and lecherous superior at the Hudsucker corporate headquarters. His only solace comes from cherished memories of his deceased grandmother, though his harsh working conditions nearly break him. After exacting revenge, he flees Tokyo but is soon caught in an airplane hijacking that crashes him into the Pacific Ocean. He washes ashore on a secluded island called Mahoroba, a term from ancient Japanese meaning a distant utopia. The work was presented at the 13th Shimokitazawa Film Festival on September 20, 2021, and received the Grand Prize among 12 entries.