My Sunshine

A heartwarming and gripping Japanese gem that follows in the footsteps of the coming-of-age classic Billy Elliot.

Young Takuya plays ice hockey, but he is by no means one of the tough guys in the team. He both stutters and is shy. When, after sustaining a minor injury on the rink, he spots the talented girl Sakura ice skating, he's hooked in every possible way. With the help of sympathetic coach Arakawa (Sōsuke Ikematsu, from The Last Samurai), he endeavors to master the sport and win Sakura over. Young director Hiroshi Okuyama has crafted a charming, tender and heartwarming tale of growing up, falling in love and feeling left out. The film is also beautifully photographed, with some frosty winter shots that almost take your breath away.

“My Sunshine is a deceptively sweet little heartwarmer that eventually cuts deeper.”

– Allan Hunter, Screen Daily – 

Jon Sæter

Director

Hiroshi Okuyama (b. 1996) is a Japanese director and screenwriter. For his first film, Jesus (2018), he won awards at the San Sebastián, Stockholm and Dublin film festivals. My Sunshine premiered in the Un Certain Regard section in Cannes.

This film is part of