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My Sunshine

Directed by Hiroshi Okuyama

2024

Japan

91 minutes

All Ages

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A stirring Japanese charmer about a boy learning to figure-skate to impress his crush. Direct from Cannes Un Certain Regard by SFF alumni Hiroshi Okuyama (Jesus, SFF 2019).

Living on a remote, wintry island, a young boy with a stutter, Takuya (Keitatsu Koshiyama), develops a crush on a graceful figure-skater in training, Sakura (Kiara Takanashi). Clumsy and without the coordination required to excel in sport (he’s bad at both baseball and ice hockey), Takuya nevertheless takes up skating to impress her. He captures the attention of Sakura’s coach, Mr. Arakawa (Sôsuke Ikematsu), who begins mentoring him on the side. Arakawa pairs the two for an upcoming competition, but jealousy and Arakawa’s secret soon fractures the trio’s bond. Okuyama’s fluid camera and lighting dances with his characters, adding a tremendous amount of grace and warmth to this nuanced tale.

Limited seats are available for patrons requiring access for wheelchairs, low vision and hearing loop. Please contact our ticketing team directly on 1300 733 733 or tickets@sff.org.au to complete your booking.

Poetry and understated charm propel a slender Japanese figure skating drama

Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter

Following up the director's well-received 2018 debut Jesus, this Cannes Un Certain Regard entry is a beautifully shot fable focused on two young figure-skaters tentatively navigating new emotions

Catherine Bray, Variety

My Sunshine is a deceptively sweet little heartwarmer that eventually cuts deeper. The second feature from director Hiroshi Okuyama sensitively charts the bond between two young ice skaters, and there is a definite Billy Elliot vibe to the mix of personal challenges and demanding training routines

Allan Hunter, Screen International

Special Guest

Hiroshi Okuyama

Director, Screenwriter

Hiroshi Okuyama is a Tokyo-born director, screenwriter, cinematographer and editor. In 2009, he directed his first work Graduationparty!!!!!! at age 13, which premiered at Kyoto International Film Festival. Okuyama later received the Best New Director Award at the San Sebastián International Film Festival in 2018 for his debut film Jesus, which also won the Best Cinematography Award in Stockholm.