26/44
A broken matriarchy and, unfortunately, extraordinary circumstances—a disturbing earthquake, a huge debt, a dying ex-husband, an enraged colleague and his son’s girlfriend—are the subject of the title “Hamon.” A standard Japanese word that literally means “waves,” and metaphorically the effect we all have on others. This is emphasized several times throughout the film by scenes where the main characters—the wife, the husband, the son, etc.—stand in a shallow pond, and the waves emitted by one character expand in the usual circular pattern to reach the others. It’s a pretty interesting visualization of interpersonal relationships, but nothing that couldn’t be applied to a film about people. Or any living organism, really. The film follows the trials and tribulations of a Japanese housewife who is forced to deal with the sudden disappearance of her husband, the death of the husband’s father, the running away of her only son to college, and then her career as best she can. travel without leaving Japan (well, except for Okinawa), and then the reappearance of said adulterous husband. Events, among other things. Lots of humor, lots of bathrooms, a few awkward scenes with the deaf groom who is brought home unannounced by his son. I think it was worth watching even before the last scene, which was surprising, exciting, exhilarating, actually quite wonderful. Hey!