Saturday, May 16, 2026 at 1:00 PM
Los Feliz Theatre, Los Angeles
### **ABOUT THE FILM:** *In Japanese with English subtitles.* Facing pressures to marry and having witnessed her two sisters’ own marital struggles, sightseeing bus guide Kiyoko (Hideko Takamine) strives for her own solitary independence, resisting suitors and openly expressing a disdain for men. Through a family of four siblings, each from different fathers, Naruse explores the suffocating family life of Kiyoko’s *shitamachi* household and its surroundings. LIGHTNING is a buildup of vignettes, events and occurrences, as Kiyo experiences the world around her—misfortune, family tragedy, interpersonal quarrels and the vulgarities of men—trying to make sense of a modern existence where the promise of happiness still comes second for women. FORMAT: 35mm DISTRIBUTOR: Kadokawa COUNTRY: Japan