A surreal entry at this year's Tokyo International Film Festival
Among the dozens of premieres at the 2024 Tokyo International Film Festival, one title stands out for its bewildering blend of science fiction, prehistoric imagery and intimate family drama. Kefi, the first feature by cinematographer turned director Saito Kisin, invites audiences into a dreamlike world where extraterrestrials hover over a quiet suburb, a dinosaur roars in a park, and a grieving son searches for meaning after his father's death.
Mixing myth and memory
The film does not follow a linear narrative. Instead it is composed of three interlocking short stories, each told in a distinct visual style. The first segment follows a teenage boy who discovers a glowing alien artifact in his backyard. The second shows an elderly man wandering a museum where a life‑size dinosaur skeleton seems to come alive. The third brings the two timelines together as the son confronts his late father's unfinished projects.
The filmmaker behind the vision
Saito Kisin spent more than a decade behind the camera, crafting the look of award winning dramas and commercials. His background in lighting and composition informs every frame of Kefi. In an interview with Variety, Kisin explained that he wanted to move beyond the technical role of cinematographer and explore storytelling that reflects his own relationship with his father, who passed away three years ago.
From cinematographer to director
Transitioning to the director's chair allowed Kisin to experiment with narrative structures that would have been impossible in his previous work. He describes the film as a “visual diary” where each vignette is a page of memory, emotion and imagination.
Narrative threads: aliens, dinosaurs and a father's death
The seemingly unrelated motifs serve a single purpose: to externalise the inner turmoil of grief. The alien represents the unknown future after loss, while the dinosaur symbolizes a world that once seemed powerful but is now extinct, mirroring the son's sense of abandonment.
How the strange motifs serve grief
Each motif is introduced with a specific visual cue:
- Bright, pulsating light for the alien encounter, suggesting both wonder and intrusion.
- Muted earth tones for the dinosaur scene, evoking nostalgia for a bygone era.
- Soft focus and warm colour for moments that recall the father's presence.
These visual choices create a rhythm that guides the audience through the emotional landscape without relying on conventional dialogue.
Visual style and cinematic influences
Kisin draws on a range of Japanese avant garde traditions while also referencing Western surrealists. The use of long takes and static frames recalls the work of Nikkatsu’s experimental cinema of the 1960s. Meanwhile, the fragmented storytelling is reminiscent of the French New Wave, where narrative is secondary to mood.
References to Japanese cinema
Elements such as the lingering shots of rain‑slick streets and the careful placement of everyday objects echo the aesthetic of director Hiroshi Sugimoto. Kisin also pays homage to the mythic storytelling found in classic Japanese folklore, where spirits and monsters often act as metaphors for human concerns.
Audience and critical response at the festival
Early screenings generated a mix of bewilderment and admiration. Audience members reported feeling “lost” at first, but many praised the film’s ability to evoke emotion through imagery rather than exposition. Critics highlighted the film's daring structure and praised Kisin for turning personal grief into a universal experience.
Early reviews and awards
According to a review in The New York Times, Kefi “redefines what a debut feature can achieve when the filmmaker treats loss as a canvas for the fantastical.” The film was shortlisted for the festival's Best New Director award and received a special mention for innovative storytelling.
Themes of loss and reconciliation
Beyond its visual spectacle, Kefi offers a meditation on how people process the absence of a loved one. The son's journey is not about forgetting his father but about integrating the memory into a new reality, represented by the alien and dinosaur symbols.
Personal resonance for Japanese viewers
In Japan, the concept of “kefi” – a Greek term for joyful enthusiasm – is used here as an ironic counterpoint to the film's heavy subject matter. The title suggests that even in the midst of mourning, moments of wonder can arise.
By the final scene, the alien spacecraft departs, the dinosaur skeleton returns to silence, and the son places his father's unfinished sketch on a shelf, indicating acceptance. The film ends on a quiet note, leaving viewers to contemplate their own ways of coping with loss.
While Kefi may not suit viewers who prefer straightforward narratives, its bold blend of science fiction, prehistoric myth and heartfelt drama marks a significant entry in contemporary Japanese cinema. It signals that emerging directors like Saito Kisin are willing to push boundaries and invite audiences into deeply personal, yet universally resonant, storytelling.
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