By Amanda Gilmore
Young widow Chloe (Carla Juri) travels to Japan for work where she’s welcomed by an old friend, Toshi (Takashi Ueno). Chloe wanders this unfamiliar landscape and creates bonds with people along the way.
Writer/Director Bradley Rust Gray’s latest Feature is a meditation on grief and learning how to feel again. His Script follows Chloe as she builds relationships with people in Japan, even though there are language barriers involved for all. One of the most touching relationships is shared with Yatsuro (Issei Ogata). He’s an elderly man whose wife is battling breast cancer. It’s a touching relationship as they share a similar yet different experience.
Gray’s long takes capture something beautiful happening with every frame. The unhurried pacing mimics Chloe’s slow process of learning and allowing herself to live and love again. The relationships she builds bring her closer to feeling again, particularly in the bond she shares with Toshi.
blood is concerned with capturing an experience. Due to this, it’s anchored in its lead character. Juri is exquisite in every frame. Most of the time, she’s listening to people speak in a language she doesn’t fully understand. It’s captivating to watch her simply exist in Chloe’s skin as she navigates her new world.
blood screens virtually at Sundance:
Premiere: Jan. 24 at 5PM EST
Second Screening: Jan. 26 at 10AM EST (available for 24hrs)
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