San Sebastian CompetitionFamily/ChildRemake/AdaptationWomenArt/Artist
When museum employee Satomi receives a mysterious key following her estranged father’s solitary death, she embarks on a quiet journey to his hidden room. Retracing his final days, she slowly uncovers a world sustained by poetry, the art of tea, and subtle beauty. Marking the feature debut of Harada Maha, one of Japan’s most celebrated authors, the film benefits immensely from her background in museum curation, drawing heavily on the tactile elegance of art and daily ritual. Aoi Yu makes a triumphant return to the screen, delivering a deeply healing performance that anchors this poignant narrative of distant emotional reconciliation. Much like a serene tea ceremony, In My Father’s Room invites viewers to pause and observe the quiet beauty embedded in everyday life, unfolding as a delicate, softly spoken study on memory, identity, and silent reconnection.
One of Japan′s leading bestselling novelists, with over ten million copies of her books sold since her debut. Harada worked at a trading company and institutions including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) before becoming a freelance curator and cultural columnist in 2002. She made her literary debut as a novelist in 2006, publishing art-themed novels such as Canvas of Paradise and Guernica Cover up. In My Father′s Room, adapted from her own short story, marks her directorial debut.
From Busan International Film Festival 2026, No. 31
