A film based on two short stories by Shiina Makoto. Tadon is the story of a cab-driver who spends his days listening to his passengers' conversations. Chikuwa is about a writer who faces a creativity bottleneck.
Filmed in a documentary style six patients in six wards of different ages and circumstances await death at a hospital in Japan. The sterile and dismal environment is contrasted against the emotional being of the patients, their visitors and relatives and the outside world, which they will never again survey.
A população de Japão está envelhecendo consideravelmente e cuidar de pessoas idosas tornou-se oneroso. O governo propõe uma solução: Uma cama eletrônica que possa fornecer o paciente todo o essencial (e o não-essencial) que uma enfermeira de verdade possa vir a oferecer. Haruko é uma de tais enfermeiras, assim como o senhor Takazawa é seu paciente, que foi escolhido como um cobaia para a tal cama eletrônica. Sentindo que seu protegido esta sofrendo de falta da amor, do qual uma cama mecânica não pode oferecer, ela tenta salvá-lo do que acha ser um martírio para ele.
Tsugumi, who lives in a small seaside town, has been in delicate health from birth. Her parents spoiled her and she is rough and selfish. However, a few people are attracted by her beauty and unique character.
A hard-working section chief, fast approaching retirement and beset by stress from all directions, joins a jazz band and reignites his youthful passion for the music, giving him a chance to set things right in his life.
Mugiko, an 18-year-old attempts to escape her unhappiness with village life by going to Tokyo to live and work in the geisha house run by her aunt. The daughter of a once great geisha, Mugiko is entitled by blood to train in the geishas ancient art of classical Japanese song and dance.
While performing in a student film, Ataru cuts down Tarozakura, a large, ancient cherry tree. Strange things begin to happen all across Tomobiki: a mountain appears out of nowhere, spring changes to winter, and Lum loses her powers, while those around her act as if she doesn't exist.
