Love is born from mutual response
The main character is Keiko, a deaf boxer who tells her brother, "Don't read my mind," and "Talking won't solve anything." She hates it when others anticipate her thoughts, and she knows from experience that verbal tactics won't get you anything you want.
This film avoids an emotionally easy-to-follow storyline. However, that does not mean that it has been abandoned. It is space and the body that trigger the story. Keiko's living space is generally low-lying land such as riverbanks or under stairs, where people live in harmony with the water. It is a surprising discovery that a story can be created simply by depicting the time that occurs there.
The film is set in East Tokyo during the COVID-19 pandemic. Boxing gyms have signs warning people to take their temperatures daily, and tournaments are being held without spectators. What has become apparent during this pandemic is the absence of the body. We have blocked off our own points of contact with the outside world by wearing masks and using online means. However, the characters in this film are triggered to move by the gestures of others. They are shaken in response to the light and roar of trains.
The film depicts only weak connections in limited spaces like the gym or the workplace. But just by having each other's bodies there and being able to sense each other, the seeds of love begin to grow. What we have lost during the COVID-19 pandemic are the spaces and bodies where our fragile souls can commune, and this makes us realize that neglecting love has been what it takes.
