Diamonds in the Sand(HKAFF2025)

In Janus Victoria's poignant debut feature, divorced Tokyo salaryman Yoji confronts his greatest fear after discovering his neighbour's kodokushi, or lonely death, shortly after burying his mother. Refusing to accept a similar fate, he follows Minerva, his mother's Filipina caregiver, to the vibrant chaos of Manila. Lily Franky delivers a masterful performance as a man choosing uncertainty over solitude, while cinematographer Akiko Ashizawa beautifully captures both Tokyo's isolation and Manila's warmth. This cross-cultural journey transforms from a meditation on loneliness into an unexpected story of human connection and second chances.

Tokyo FILMeX
White Mulberry Award for a First Feature Film, Udine Far East Film Festival