Close-Knit

Eleven year-old Tomo is abandoned by her irresponsible mother, and moves in with her uncle and his new partner Rinko. She is tall, gentle, works as a nurse, and is endlessly caring and kind. Tomo is at first surprised to learn that Rinko is a transwoman, but the two develop a close relationship, and slowly Rinko starts to take on the role of Tomo's new mother.

Naoko Ogigami first became known to a Norwegian audience with the low-key, philisophical drama comedy Glasses (2007). There, as in her new film, she takes her time to really let us get to know the characters, and she embraces the idea that being different is something good, although difficult at times.

For even though Japan is a relatively tolerant society, recognising sexual minorites such as transpersons, there is plenty of prejudice just below the surface. Which is what Tomo experiences when she tries to include Rinko in her social life outside the family. But one of the great qualities of Close-Knit is that it approaches issues of gender and social dynamics by using positive role models. This is a mother-daugther relationship drama, with characters that are impossible not to fall in love with. Mads Wølner Voss

Naoko Ogigami (b. 1972) studied film at the University of Southern California, and worked as a cinematographer and production assistant in TV and commercial films before moving home and starting to make feature films. Glasses (2007), her best-known film, was a huge hit at festivals all over the world, and screened at Films from the South, as did Rent-a-Cat (2012).