A Cannes 2024 acquisitions title already picking up buzz out of the Un Certain Regard lineup is Hiroshi Okuyama’s “My Sunshine,” which IndieWire shares an exclusive clip of below. Writer/director Okuyama won the top prize in the New Directors competition at the 2018 San Sebastian Film Festival for his debut feature, “Jesus,” at just 22 years old and now makes his Cannes debut. The moving coming-of-age drama set in rural Japan premieres later this week, centering on the bond between an ice figure-skating coach and his young pupils who take a particular interest in him — and with life-defining consequences.
Here’s the official synopsis: “On a Japanese island, life revolves around the changing seasons. Winter is time for ice hockey at school, but Takuya isn’t too thrilled about it. His real interest lies in Sakura, a figure skating rising star from Tokyo, for whom he starts to develop a genuine fascination. Coach and former champion Arakawa, spots potential in Takuya, and decides to mentor him to form a duo with Sakura for an upcoming competition. As winter persists, feelings grow, and the two children form a harmonious bond. But even the first snow eventually melts away.”
“I always told myself that one day I would make a film about figure skating, which I was introduced to as a child. But I couldn’t manage it,” Okuyama said in press notes for the film. “I had to accept that invoking memories alone isn’t enough to make a film. Then I discovered the song ‘My Sunshine’ by Humbert Humbert, and as I listened to it daily, the story I needed to film began to take shape. At the same time, I met Sōsuke Ikematsu [the lead actor in the film], and I was convinced that if I could translate his charm onto the screen, I could make the film.”
The filmmaker also spoke about how “My Sunshine” comes from a very personal place: “The context of ‘My Sunshine’ was heavily influenced by real experiences from my childhood. Firstly, figure skating, which I practiced in elementary school. I was just following my older sister, who was trying to become an athlete, but oddly, it never felt burdensome. I remember seeing girls who skated brilliantly, just like Takuya, the main character, and thinking I would like to dance like her. An experience also led me to imagine the protagonist having a stutter. Although I’ve rarely talked about it publicly, I suffered from a tic in my childhood that made me involuntarily clear my throat. Back then, I hoped so much that my classmates would leave me alone instead of mimicking me or giving me weird nicknames, that I wanted Takuya to have a best friend who never mentions his stutter and doesn’t make a big deal out of it.”
Charades is handling sales for “My Sunshine” out of Cannes.
