Moving is a gripping family drama and an unconventional coming-of-age tale; Renko turns out to be a highly idiosyncratic teenage girl who unflinchingly chooses her own path. Somai films in long takes, giving the actors plenty of room to shine. The narrative oscillates between seriousness and humor, with a magical-realist undertone, against the backdrop of a traditional fireworks festival. Director Shinji Somai (1948 – 2001) came to prominence in the 1980s, when Japan’s studio system collapsed and independent directors were given space. He directed thirteen feature films, mainly within the genre of “seishun eiga” (youth film). Besides the long takes, the use of the elements is also an important stylistic element in Somai’s films; typhoons and downpours depict the emotional turbulence of growing children in a chaotic environment. Celebrated film auteurs such as Hirokazu Kore-eda (Monster, Shoplifters) and Ryusuke Hamaguchi (Drive My Car) consider Shinji Somai an inspiring example; yet Somai’s films are virtually unknown outside Japan.