TALLER THAN THE TREES

Megan Mylan, (2016), 13 minutes

Purcell Carson, editor

New York Times Op-Doc

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Masami Hayata lives the life of a quintessential Japanese executive, husband and active father. But he reflects contemporary Japanese culture in another way, as well. Every day as Hayata struggles to care for his ageing mother, he is fulfilling expectations of family caregiving that are deeply rooted in a Confucian idea of filial piety, and oya koko, a devotion and respect for parents. Japan has the oldest population in the world, and with a high life expectancy and low birth rate, balancing these goals increasingly conflicts with the demands of modern life. Hayata’s struggle to give his mother grace and dignity in her last years is universally relevant.

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New York Times Op-Docs

Tribeca Film Festival 2017