Experiencing Interruptions?

The Bento on a Hot Summer's Day

<Synopsis>
There used to be a family of four living in a certain housing complex.
The father who is a businessman, the mother who is working as a part-time cashier at a supermarket, the 9 year-old elder daughter Yuuna, and the 4 year-old younger daughter Naho.
On a certain morning in the early summer just before everybody takes summer break, encouraged by her mother, Yuuna prepares box lunch for her family for the first time in her life.
She challenges to make rolled omelet and packs vegetables and sausages in the boxes.
Her father and mother are very proud of the growth of their daughter.
During the breakfast, the mother asks the father a favor but the conversation leads to the discussion about the financial situation that concerns the future of their daughters.
Their opinions conflict and the conversation escalates into a big argument.
Meanwhile, Yuuna encourages herself to take a certain action.

<Product Intention>
Setting the location in the housing complex which was built between 1960 and 1970 during the period of high economic growth in Japan, I wrote a short story of a usual morning of one family of four.
This film is intendedly written with a structure where the audience can empathize with one of the characters depending on in which position in their family they find themselves.
With such an approach I tried to visualize the problems that exist in “family” which is a smallest unit of society, which can lead us to think about the challenges that ordinary families have to overcome.

  • Yusuke Ishide
    Director
  • Yusuke Ishide
    Writer
  • Yusuke Ishide
    Producer
  • Akira Rachi
    Cinematography
  • Takafumi Nakagiri
    Production designer
  • Chiharu Kuroki
    Music
  • Izumi Sakai
    Sound designer
  • Yuuna Kakee
    Key Cast
    "Yuuna"
  • Naho Kakee
    Key Cast
    "Naho"
  • Youko Masuda
    Key Cast
    "Mom"
  • Takeshi Marushima
    Key Cast
    "Dad"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    20 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    January 1, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    10,000,000 JPY
  • Country of Origin:
    Japan
  • Country of Filming:
    Japan
  • Language:
    Japanese
  • Shooting Format:
    16mm
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • 42th Busan International Short Film Festival
    Busan
    South Korea
    April 25, 2025
    International premiere
    OFFICIAL SELECTION
  • 32th KINEKO International Film Festival Festival
    Futakotamagawa Setagaya
    Japan
    November 1, 2025
    OFFICIAL SELECTION
  • 20th Busan International Kids and Youth Short Film Festival
    Busan
    South Korea
    July 13, 2025
    OFFICIAL SELECTION
  • Cannes Indie Shorts Awards
    Cannes
    France
    May 21, 2026
    SEMI-FAINALIST 〔NEW WAVES SHOWCASE〕
Director Biography - Yusuke Ishide

While studying business administration at a university, the director also studied animation basics at an art school.
After graduating he wrote and directed three short live-action films.
Screened in Japan film festivals, they won several awards including grand prix.
His fourth short film "The Master of Sento" has been selected as an official selection at 62 film festivals in 32 countries.
The director prefers using the 16mm film format mainly for shooting, He is currently preparing his new short film, which will also be in the 16mm film format.

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Director Statement

Even if the production funds are small and the equipment is minimal, we will make a rich movie.