COTTONTAIL (Japanese with English) "Deeply soulful and memorable." Caloundra Tue Night.

COTTONTAIL movie trailer HERE

M 90 min

Stars Lily Franky, Ciarán Hinds, Aoife Hinds, Ryo Nishikido, Tae Kimura and Rin Takanashi

Premiered at the Rome Film Festival winning the Best First Film award.

Played at the 2024 Sydney Film Festival 

A Japanese man, Kenzaburo, travels to England to scatter his wife's ashes at Lake Windemere as per her wishes.  She loved the stories of Beatrix Potter and has a particular place in mind. His son Toshi and his young family accompany him, partly out of family duty but also because he believes his father will be incapable of getting it done on his own.  

Tired of Toshi's interventions and condescending ways , he leaves them behind in London to complete the task on his own  but gets lost and lost in translation along the way. He comes to a farmhouse where he is taken in by John , the excellent Ciarán Hinds and his daughter Mary the also excellent  Aoife Hinds

(who is Ciaran Hands daughter in real life)  and after some initial reluctance by John and some confusion because Kenzaburo is limited in what he can convey, they help him to realise his plan.

Toshi however is in pursuit and catches up with his father before the ashes are spread.  A resolution is required.   And delivered.  

 Flashbacks in the film reveal the rabbit motif that Kenzaburo had forgotten and which makes his wife's final wishes and the journey itself that much more powerful.  It is also nuanced,  moving and quielty amusing.  

"Deeply soulful and memorable." The Convention 

"Sensitive." Screen Daily 

" Cottontail is a poignant tale  about love and regret and trying to renew family bonds." North Shore Movies. 

Rome Film Festival.  Winner   Best First Feature Award.

Sydney Film Festival Official Competition