Direction: Chie Hayakawa
Country: Japan
Chie Hayakawa’s sophomore feature, Renoir, is a coming-of-age drama that, struggling to find a consistently satisfying rhythm, timidly engages with supernatural elements. The film follows 11-year-old Fuki (Yui Suzuki), a girl fascinated by psychic powers and hypnosis, haunted by dreams of death, and praised for her exquisite—if sometimes misunderstood—school essays. Her father (Lily Franky) is terminally ill, while her mother (Hikari Ishida) juggles household responsibilities and work while becoming involved in an unexpected affair. Largely unsupervised and rarely expressing her emotions openly, Fuki has ample time to drift into dangerous situations while seeking refuge in the boundless realm of her imagination.
Despite the vivid impressionistic touches, the film attempts to move in too many directions, ultimately becoming trapped in narrative rumination and accomplishing less than it promises. It’s somewhat vaporous in its uneven spell, portraying family dynamics shaped by emotional isolation and detachment. While psychologically intriguing, it lacks the narrative and cinematic momentum necessary to sustain its ambitions. A series of digressions—only intermittently effective—frequently undermines the film’s emotional focus.
Hayakawa, who made a positive debut with Plan 75 (2022), seems constrained by the intimate framework she has created, and Renoir provides few accessible entry points for viewers. I found it hard to establish a meaningful connection with its characters and their experiences.
