Hole in the Sky is a bitter, yet heart-warming film, dedicated to wretched men who experience their maleness as a black hole from which no escape is possible. After this film, they will never have to be afraid again of the pain of being in love. The story is set in Hokkaido, the northern expanse of Japan with its impressive nature and clear blue skies. It is the area where the director Kumakiri himself grew up.Kinoshita Ichio is a good-hearted, single man aged 35 who runs a small roadside diner called ‘Hole in Heaven’ with his eccentric father. Sometimes a few truckers or travellers pass. Ichio stands behind the stove everyday without much pleasure. He feels lonely. One day, a girl walks into the restaurant. She tries to leave again without paying, but Ichio stops her. It turns out that the girl has been deserted by her lover. Ichio offers her accommodation and a job in the restaurant. Their life together seems to last for ever, but maybe Ichio is just a little too romantic.Kumakiri, one of the young, promising film-makers from Japan, sketches his characters with great feeling and a sharp insight into the tragedy that clings to every person. Kumakiri: ‘I would like you to love my film and my characters. That is my only wish for my trip to Rotterdam.’
