The Man Who Wipes Mirrors

Running time: N/A

Obsession is generally considered a negative; something that consumes so much of the mind must only destroy the spirit that enraptured it in the first place. Sometimes, however, an obsession is merely another monotonous habit unless combined with the compulsion to change one's world for the better. Tsutomu Minagawa is set to retire; the organized business life, a perfectly normal family living in a two-story house with a garage, the once unstoppable routine is about to close down forever. However, Tsutomu's last day changes him forever, as a car accident leads to his new purpose and sets him on a mission to clean every traffic mirror in Japan in order to save lives. So, with stepladder and cleaning supplies in tow and, hopefully, with the support of his family, Tsutomu sets out on a countrywide bicycle tour to try to rectify the past. Beautifully photographed throughout Japan, director Seisoku Kajits'a The Man Who Wipes Mirrors evokes the softer side of life both in message and form. It is a journey that is as heartfelt as it is inspirational. John Ignowski GLOBAL LANDSCAPES: PACIFIC BASIN SHOWCASE