Vostočnaja elegija

The first of a series of films made in Japan. An island, a forest; houses gradually become visible behind wafts of mist. The narra-tor’s voice cautiously takes up contact with their ghostly residents, who seem woven into the dense materiality of the timeless place. Yearning for happiness, for belonging. Sokurov has many questions for the painting-like figures, who answer him candidly.