My Small Land < Top — HANDBOOK >

My Small Land is a "subtle and complex" film that dextrously balances personal perspective with pressing global issues. It is a must-watch for anyone interested in modern Japanese cinema or stories of displacement and identity.

: Emma Kawawada, a former assistant director to Hirokazu Kore-eda, brings a similar "naturalistic cinematography" and "empathetic direction" to this story. Lina Arashi delivers a standout performance, capturing Sarya's resilience as she balances the weight of bureaucracy with her own desires for independence. My Small Land

: The film masterfully highlights the tension between Sarya’s Kurdish heritage and her Japanese environment. She is caught between two worlds—never fully accepted in Japan, yet distant from a culture she barely remembers. My Small Land is a "subtle and complex"

Emma Kawawada’s directorial debut, My Small Land (2022), is a poignant and essential exploration of what it means to belong when the world refuses to grant you a home. Emma Kawawada’s directorial debut, My Small Land (2022),

: Unlike many immigration dramas that "aim for the jugular," My Small Land is a "powerful slice-of-life" that quietly creeps under your skin. It shows Sarya’s world falling apart piece by piece, making her universal coming-of-age experience all the more heartbreaking.

: Beyond its intimate story, the film serves as a "quiet political statement" regarding the often-overlooked lives of refugees in Japan. It received a special mention from the Amnesty International Award jury at the Berlin International Film Festival for its sensitive handling of these social issues.

The film centers on Sarya (played by Lina Arashi), a 17-year-old Kurdish refugee living in Japan. While she initially feels integrated into Japanese society—dreaming of university and experiencing a blossoming romance—her life is thrown into chaos when her family’s refugee status is revoked and her father is jailed for illegal employment.