A new black-and-white Japanese film tackles the challenges of growing old through the story of a retired professor. “Teki Cometh” follows Gisuke Watanabe, portrayed by veteran actor Kyozo Nagatsuka, as his quiet daily routine gets disrupted by ominous messages warning about his approaching “enemy.”
The movie begins as a character study of Watanabe’s life after retiring from teaching French literature. But it soon delves into unsettling territory as the line blurs between his dreams and reality. In his dreams, Watanabe grapples with his past relationships and worries about the future. He finds himself haunted by the ghost of his late wife, played by Asuka Kurosawa, who resents what she sees as his betrayal.
Director Yoshida Daihachi, now age 60, drew from his own experiences with aging and increasingly vivid dreams for the film. He hopes viewers will interpret the dreamlike narrative in their own way. While some elements involve modern technology like social media, Watanabe himself remains traditionally anchored in Japanese culture. According to Yoshida, Watanabe represents many Japanese with feet in both Western and Japanese worlds.
Adapting the 1998 novel, Yoshida aimed to have audiences actively engaged with the film. By leaving some aspects open to interpretation, he wants viewers to make the story their own and find new meanings with each watch, like dreams one wants to experience again. “Teki Cometh” had its premiere this month at the Tokyo International Film Festival as Japan grapples with topics around its rapidly aging population.
