About the Film
Japanese filmmaker Hikari's debut film 37 Seconds captures its viewers in an instant. Delight flutters from the opening shot of a young head, meekly moving between the bodies of men standing in a crowded train carriage. The mystery of this visual contradiction immediately becomes apparent when we see the heroine, Yuma, nestled in a wheelchair. She suffers from cerebral palsy; her limbs are deformed, only allowing her to crawl. This information resolves that the prudent audience must repress their pity, for what will follow is a story full of surprises. It is a cinematic portrayal of the power of humor, the zest for life, and the ability to discover and overcome personal adversity in favor of synergy, integration, and collective acceptance.
Yuma lives with her mother, since her father abandoned them when she was a baby. Her mother takes care of her and treats her like a child, rather than an adult woman. She works as a painter at a comic book publishing house, and her impairment is a physical barrier, not a reason to give up on life. So, what is missing from the 23-year-old woman’s life? The answer is “adventure”—her existence is monotonous, with a horizontal history devoid of any breakthroughs or shakes.
Hikari’s narrative does not linger, but rather presents itself in a dramatic glow that moves from one confrontation to another, carrying its protagonist towards unfamiliar worlds and surprising people. Her successive journeys start with a crazy suggestion: manga drawings inspired by pornography, with dramatic layouts. The young woman’s argument is that they are a way to attract new readers. But does the crafty artist carry enough sexual experience to sketch its many different worlds?
What happens next in the film is more than just humor; rather a gripping story of fate leading the protagonist, through purposeful scenes, to human statements full of compassion, affection, and an abundance of emotions. It paves the way for a new bond with Yuma’s estranged twin sister, who came before her at birth by 37 seconds—just the amount of time that stopped Yuma’s breathing, leading to her condition. 37 Seconds is a cinematic break that prompts us to cling to our strengths; the power behind our stand against adversity.
Ziad Al Khozai
