Written and directed by Yusuke Oishi, “Rice Ball” is a short and intense 15-min exploration of grief through the simple act of eating one of the simplest homemade snacks of Japanese culture: onigiri.
“Rice Ball” is screening at Japan Filmfest Hamburg
Father (Hideo Kurihara) and son (author Yusuke Oishi himself) are back from the crematory, after their wife/mother's funeral. Carrying the ritual box of ashes and bones, they face an empty house. Suddenly, the stomachs feel empty and in need of comfort food. Father quickly makes some basic onigiris, possibly the easiest thing to make in the kitchen, literally cooked rice out of the electric cooker, pressed into the palms into a triangular shape. What could go wrong? Well, first of all, Father's onigiris are big and spherical and they are a bit insipid, as he forgot to taste the rice and season accordingly. It's a fact, they taste different from Mother's onigiri but it's not just the shape and the seasoning. While eating, father and son talk and – without even realising – they elaborate and express their pain.
This gentle, emotional piece has the feeling of a brief stage play in real time; a sweet exchange based on a mindful script. As the conversation unfolds, the two protagonists go through a path, enacting the stages of grief. They have just gone through the shock of the funeral, and pain and anger are setting in: “why the onigiris are so wrong?” Followed by depression: “Mum's onigiris were so good and unique!” But then, here is the upward turn: “Mum asked me to feed you well.” Reconstruction: “I will work on the vegetable patch”. And finally, acceptance: “These onigiris will be our family recipe now”. And all this, simply eating a rice ball; as the most basic food of Japanese tradition, an onigiri is a repository of memories and feelings of belonging.
As formulaic as it may sound, “Rice Ball” is actually a clever and minimalist narration where a huge life event is chewed in small bites and channeled through the basic function of eating and being nurtured. The simple, homely setting and the natural feel of the lighting keep the mood cosy and familiar and drive the attention to the dialogue which is executed with great skill by the acting duo. A compelling and rich process encapsulated in a moment; perfect short film.
