Shocking Truth Revealed: Son Uncovers Secret Life of Dementia-Stricken Dad in ‘Great Absence’

The moment dementia takes a central role in any family, the devastating effects of loss begin. In this unsettling environment, where confusion prevails, Japanese director Kei Chika-ura crafts his deeply poignant film, “Great Absence.” It portrays a harsh father suffering from dementia and the detached son’s exploration into their past.

With a masterful screenplay by Chika-ura and Keita Kumano that’s a top-notch example of narrative compassion, and an exceptional portrayal of a declining life by renowned actor Tatsuya Fuji (“In the Realm of the Senses”), it provides profound insight into a challenging situation. Simultaneously, it intriguingly leaves some emotional and mental processes cryptic.

When Tokyo-based actor Takashi (Mirai Moriyama) discovers that his retired professor father Yohji (Fuji) has been part of an alarming police incident, he reluctantly travels to his island hometown of Kyushu more out of obligation than affection. Takashi, a child of divorce, has largely distanced himself from his father for many years.

Accompanied by his producer wife Yuki (Yoko Maki), Takashi arranges for Yohji to be admitted into a care facility. The elder man is convinced he’s being sent to a foreign prison. Takashi also starts sorting through the house that Yohji will likely never see again. The house is littered not only with traces of a long life, including a ham radio set that became Yohji’s main hobby, but also with written reminders everywhere, like a crime scene against memory. There’s a mystery to unravel: the apparent disappearance of Yohji’s devoted second wife, Naomi (Hideko Hara), the woman he left Takashi’s mother for many years ago.

With Yohji, who struggles with reality, being an unreliable source, and Naomi’s resentful adult son (Masaki Miura) from a previous marriage being evasive about her location – Takashi is left to piece together the puzzle of Yohji’s and Naomi’s life. His main resource is a bulky diary filled with letters, revealing a complex, eye-opening love story.

A key element to the film’s escalating impact is its time-altering structure, which integrates the recent past into the ongoing narrative like alternating waves. The flashbacks, starting with one of Takashi’s strained home visits, depict a long-term marriage crumbling under Yohji’s deteriorating condition – brought to life vividly by Fuji – and loyal, cheerful Naomi’s decreasing resilience, portrayed with subtle anguish by Hara. In the present, Takashi, engrossed in the diary as if studying for a complex role, slowly becomes unsettled by the discovery of an emotional side to his father that he was previously unaware of, particularly during the times when he was subjected to his father’s harsh criticism.

“Great Absence”, subtly referencing its pandemic context to add a hint of isolating sorrow, is as sharply poignant as any film in portraying the impact of an aging society on the younger generation. It highlights the stark contrast between Yohji’s and Naomi’s traditional marriage, and the more balanced partnership shared by Takashi and Yuki. It also examines the ripple effects when a difficult man suddenly requires assistance. In its deliberate yet tense atmosphere and engaging plot, Chika-ura has crafted a novel-like depiction of one man’s fading identity. As he vanishes, he finds an unexpected foothold in his estranged son’s awareness. This makes “Great Absence” a captivating and moving portrayal of understanding across time and memory.