You've probably never heard of the Ainu. They are the indigenous people surrounding the Sea of Okhotsk. As a minority population in Japan, they struggle to preserve their culture. This is part of the subject of "Ainu moshiri" ("Ainu Mosir" in English).
The protagonist is a teenage boy on Hokkaido. His people essentially function as a tourist attraction, with his mom having to operate a store catering to travelers. However, another possible path in the boy's life arises when an elder takes him to place in the forest said to be a link with the world of the dead.
Watching this movie, one gets the feeling that this is how indigenous peoples all over the world are forced to live. Even if they don't live in squalor, they still have to serve as entertainment for the non-indigenous population while living as second-class citizens. This movie touches on that. It's not a masterpiece, but worth seeing. Check it out if you get a chance.
The protagonist is a teenage boy on Hokkaido. His people essentially function as a tourist attraction, with his mom having to operate a store catering to travelers. However, another possible path in the boy's life arises when an elder takes him to place in the forest said to be a link with the world of the dead.
Watching this movie, one gets the feeling that this is how indigenous peoples all over the world are forced to live. Even if they don't live in squalor, they still have to serve as entertainment for the non-indigenous population while living as second-class citizens. This movie touches on that. It's not a masterpiece, but worth seeing. Check it out if you get a chance.