Small, Slow But Steady
Tender Japanese drama about a young woman with hearing impairment who dreams of a career as a professional boxer.
Keiko was born with a hearing impairment. Boxing is a real challenge for her, but the club she belongs to is like a second home. After winning two difficult fights, a creeping fear begins to grow inside her. The club chairman, the only person who had accepted her as a boxer, is plagued by health issues and is losing his eyesight. Having learned that the gym is about to close for good, a confused Keiko goes on to her third bout. But perhaps the biggest challenge she faces is trying to understand the true nature and strength of her will to fight.
SMALL, SLOW BUT STEADY is a deeply moving character study powered by an unforgettable performance from rising star Yukino Kishii. Who needs speech when they have eyes as expressive as hers? Boxing, her coach reminds her, is about respect. Shot on gorgeous 16mm with razor-sharp precision and a deep sense of emotional truth, director Sho Miyake demonstrates this same sense of respect to tell this story of willpower put to the test. (source: www.berlinale.de)