Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman

A cat goes missing, a waitress has a mysterious encounter and a talking frog tries to save Tokyo.

For five days after the 2011 earthquake, Komura observes his wife in a catatonic state, glued to the news on television. Without notice she disappears, leaving a note that reads "living with you is like living with a chunk of air." Left alone, Komura takes a week’s leave from work and embarks on an errand to deliver a mysterious box and its unknown contents to two young women.

That's not all that's happening though. A lot of mysterious things are taking place including a missing cat, a waitress' strange encounter with the elusive restaurant owner, and a giant frog who wants to save Tokyo.

Curator's Note

Pierre Földes' dreamlike adaptation of Haruki Murakami's short stories draws from and intertwines five short works including 'Birthday Girl', 'The Wind-up Bird and Tuesday's Women', 'UFO in Kushiro', 'Super-Frog Saves Tokyo' and 'Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman' which shares its name with the film.

Pierre Földes' animated feature premiered at the renowned Annecy International Animation Film Festival where it received the Jury Special Mention award.

– Reece Goodwin, Curator (Film & TV)