Seed

The girl was born amid rays of the divine light. Reaching out for a white seed, she begins to walk in the direction of the light shining on the earth. Emotions are transferred from objects to people and from people to the girl. Naomi Kawase describes that girl as being "more like a fairy. A mysterious creature." A boy offers her the gift of an apple, which she in turn gives to a homeless man, who proffers a soft piece of chiffon fabric in return. Moving like a tree that sways in the wind, the girl expresses a spirit that secretly runs through places and living things. Seed is the story of the journey this girl takes from the enchanted nature of Nara to the chaos of Tokyo, and the encounters she has along the way. Seed is also a sentimental portrait of Asian femininity, which Kawase depicts as "primitive, primal and erotic at the same time." The soundtrack was composed by the band Sakanaction, famous for their fusion of folk melodies and artful lyrics. (Venice International Film Festival)