Qualia

TANAKA Yuko (SASAKI Kokone) leads a rather modest life. Having married into a chicken farm belonging to her husband Ryosuke’s (KIGUCHI Kenta) family, she now works to keep the farm’s daily operations running, together with somewhat-reclusive employee Taichi (TO Chikara) and disagreeable sister-in-law Satomi (KUDAMATSU Maya), the latter of whom subjects her to constant belittling and bullying.

While searching for an additional live-in farmhand, Yuko comes across an application from Saki (ISHIKAWA Ruka) and decides to interview her. The interview goes well, but what Yuko fails to realise is that Saki is having an affair with her husband. Oblivious to this, Yuko decides to hire Saki, and her once-peaceful life begins to fall apart…

A quirky, chaotic black comedy adapted from a theatrical production staged in 2021, Qualia is actor-turned-director USHIMARU Ryo’s remarkable debut, depicting the blurring of the boundaries between compassion and madness in the strained relationships of its characters.

©2023 Qualia Film Partners

養鶏場を営む家族を中心に、それに関わる奇妙な人々の姿を描いたブラック・コメディー。養鶏場に嫁いだ優子は義姉からいびられながら暮らす。あるとき養鶏場の住み込みのバイトに応募してきた女性を雇うが、それは夫の不倫相手だった。不倫相手を交えた奇妙な共同生活が始まり……。俳優の牛丸亮がメガホンを取り、2021年に上演された舞台作品を脚色。

(Special thanks to Eikoku News Digest)