Ainu Mosir
by Karen Pecota

Japanese filmmaker Takeshi Fukunaga based in New York was selected by the Cannes Cinefondation to develop his second film Ainu Mosir that deals with a tight-knit Asian community and the mores that accompany a rich cultural heritage.

Fukunaga's coming-of-age storyline is set in an indigenous village in Northern Japan. At the age of fourteen, Kanto (Kanto Shimokura) loses his father to a serious illness. Konto is now the man of the house and feels the responsibility to care for his mother as well as the pressure to step-up to adulthood responsibilities. Konto isn't ready to jump into his father's shoes as the community would prefer. Konto would rather goof-around and hang-out with his teenage friends who are tired of their parents’ expectations of them to participate in cultural rituals for tourists.

Konto and his friends have been raised in a community where their livelihood depends on preserving and performing their ancient traditions for visiting tourists. Konto is a sensitive young man and feels the peer pressure to resist participating in ancient customs. At the same time, he is highly respectful of his ancient cultural heritage.

Konto is taken under the wing of a longtime family friend, Debo (Debo Akibe) who understands the loss that Konto feels with his father's absence. Debo introduces Konto to the secrets and wisdom of their ancestors. Debo understands that Konto is at the age where he needs to begin to develop his sense of worth and self. A controversial ceremony called the Bear sacrifice is about to take place and Konto isn't sure if this is appropriate to celebrate. Konto must take a stand and decide if he will abide by the traditional values or take a different path relating to his ancient heritage.