[Himizu] is based on a manga of same name by popular Japanese animator Minoru Furuya, first published in 2001. The son of a violent father and a runaway mother, Sumida, wishes for an ordinary life. He feels alone despite being surrounded by people who are worried about him and want to help. His dream of an ordinary life actually leads him to isolate himself from people; he wants to be a hidden ‘root’, not a visible ‘flower’. Chazawa, a girl from a dysfunctional family with a fairly grim life of her own, is drawn to him, but the world around them will not simply let them be. Eventually Sumida's anger boils over. Sumida’s dream for an ordinary life captures the essence of animator Furuya’s original concept from 10 years ago. In fact, there are few differences between Furuya’s vision and director Sono Sion's. Sono, however, adds a prologue and epilogue hinging on the March earthquake, creating an intriguing metaphor suggesting Sumida’s personal dream is similar to that of post-tsunami Japan, as the people strive to return to normality. (KIM Ji-seok)