
Forsomereason,thereisverylittlesnowinthewinterof2020ontheShiretokoPeninsula,aspecialplacelocatedinthenorthernmostpartofJapanwhererarewildanimalscoexistwithhumans.Thetypicaldrifticehasn’tappearedyet,either.Althoughworried,theinhabitantsofthevillageSharicontinuetheirdailyaffairs:theshepherdbakesbuns,ahunterpreparesadinnerwithvenison,afishermanpicksuptrashfromtheseaandanotherpersonobservesflyingsquirrelsinhergarden.<br/> Intheseruralsurroundings,directorYoshigaiNao,whoisalsoadancerandchoreographer,introducesamysterious,fiery-redcreature,likeawalkingscarecrow.Thisturnsherdelicate,documentaryobservationsintoanidyllic,yetdisquietingfairytale.Folklore,artsandcrafts,oralhistory,ecology,andmythologyblendelegantlyinthisvisualpoem.Insidethegym,schoolchildrenfighttheredcreaturewithalltheirmight,Sumo-style,whileoutsidethebearsskiptheirwintersleep.