Taka cares for his sick, elderly uncle – this gives him a roof over his head, comfortable unemployment and a place to play his bongos. When his uncle suddenly passes, his cousin allows him to stay and employs him to work at the family fish pond. For a minute, things are good, until a new family from Tokyo moves into their small town and brings their creepy enthusiasm for the natural life with them.
Being Natural is a sampling of Japanese ‘curio’ (per google, a ‘nonsense film’). The film plays out in three acts – first comedy, drama, and then horror? It will give you one of the most unsettling sex scenes I’ve ever seen. There’s that. And then the film will switch tones so fast, you’ll think you’re watching a new movie. And while the film delivers on nonsense – it’s goofy, fun, and weird – it is not spooky.
Being Natural screened as part of the Chattanooga Film Festival 2020.