A young woman is deeply troubled by the notion that she brings death to people, falsely blaming herself for the passing of her beloved grandmother and the unexplained suicide of her first husband. Although remarried and living in a village on Japan’s Inland Sea, she maintains a painfully guarded facade. Showing the influence of Hou Hsiao-Hsien, Koreeda avoids close-ups in favor of slowly paced, exquisitely composed wide-angle shots. This technique denies his audience an easy process of identification with his characters but allows a more contemplative reflection on the healing process.