Offbeat Japanese Film 'Desert of Namibia' Trailer Starring Yumi Kawai

"Am I pretty?" Kani Releasing has debuted an official US trailer for a Japanese indie film titled Desert of Namibia, the second feature made by young Japanese filmmaker Yoko Yamanaka. This first premiered at last year's Cannes Film Festival in the Directors' Fortnight sidebar section, and it will be playing in US art house theaters starting this May – one year later. The film stars Yumi Kawai as 21-year-old Satsuki – she swaps boyfriends frequently, unconcerned with career or societal norms. Her unpredictable behavior leads to a misdiagnosis of bipolar disorder, as she navigates a rigid, patriarchal society. Described in one review as: "Elusive, Desert of Namibia is an ultra-melancholic slapstick comedy, a slow-burn vaudeville, a fantasy film without monsters or ghosts–or else entirely populated by monsters and ghosts, but with a seemingly everyday quality..." And it also "masterfully conveys the chaos and disarray of a young woman at odds with the world as much as with herself." In addition to Kawai, the film stars Keisuke Horibe, Daichi Kaneko, Kanichiro, Yuzumi Shintani, Makiko Watanabe, and Erika Karata. This is definitely worth a look. Here's the official US trailer (+ posters) for Yoko Yamanaka's film Desert of Namibia, from YouTube: Desert of […]

Mar 27, 2025 - 02:06

Offbeat Japanese Film 'Desert of Namibia' Trailer Starring Yumi Kawai

"Am I pretty?" Kani Releasing has debuted an official US trailer for a Japanese indie film titled Desert of Namibia, the second feature made by young Japanese filmmaker Yoko Yamanaka. This first premiered at last year's Cannes Film Festival in the Directors' Fortnight sidebar section, and it will be playing in US art house theaters starting this May – one year later. The film stars Yumi Kawai as 21-year-old Satsuki – she swaps boyfriends frequently, unconcerned with career or societal norms. Her unpredictable behavior leads to a misdiagnosis of bipolar disorder, as she navigates a rigid, patriarchal society. Described in one review as: "Elusive, Desert of Namibia is an ultra-melancholic slapstick comedy, a slow-burn vaudeville, a fantasy film without monsters or ghosts–or else entirely populated by monsters and ghosts, but with a seemingly everyday quality..." And it also "masterfully conveys the chaos and disarray of a young woman at odds with the world as much as with herself." In addition to Kawai, the film stars Keisuke Horibe, Daichi Kaneko, Kanichiro, Yuzumi Shintani, Makiko Watanabe, and Erika Karata. This is definitely worth a look. // Continue Reading ›