In a remote Japanese village, at a time when tradition and nature intertwine in an inescapable cycle, lives an elderly woman, and that is her only way of life. The community, governed by ancestral beliefs, faces the harsh reality of aging and the struggle for survival. As resources dwindle, the custom of taking the elderly to the mountains to die becomes a central theme that challenges not only family dynamics but also morality and interpersonal relationships.
The story focuses on the relationship between the elderly woman and her son, who, despite understanding the tradition, finds himself torn between his love for his mother and the societal pressure to conform to the norms. As events unfold, the film explores the profound and often painful connection between humans and the inexorable passage of time. The journey to the mountain symbolizes not only a farewell but also the community's desire to preserve what they can in a changing world.
With visually powerful imagery and a narrative rich in emotional nuances, the film is a reflection on life, death, and the sacrifices often demanded of those who love. In an environment where reality confronts tradition, the characters discover their own truth, revealing the internal struggle between what is expected of them and what they truly feel.