THE ONLY WAY (Short film) Mature

Synopsis

After moving into a new flat, Taro hopes for a quiet weekend to settle into his new space. Instead, a small and inexplicable disturbance demands his full attention.

What begins as a minor inconvenience gradually turns into an increasingly absurd and isolating situation. As Taro attempts to contain the problem, his efforts to maintain control only make things worse, trapping him in a cycle of frustration, misjudgment, and escalating tension.

As the situation intensifies, the line between control and chaos begins to blur.

Inspirations

The Only Way draws inspiration from artists who explore the strange within the ordinary. The film embraces Wes Anderson's deadpan humour, combined with the subtle surrealism of filmmakers like Yorgos Lanthimos, Ari Aster, and Katsuhito Ishii.

Moments of physical absurdity are influenced by the playful visual gags in Shinobu Yaguchi’s films, in which simple situations can unexpectedly escalate. Visually, the film is also inspired by photography: the surreal domestic imagery of Brooke DiDonato and Jack Davison, alongside the delicate attention to everyday detail found in the work of Rinko Kawauchi.

Audience

In recent years, audiences have shown a growing interest in films that blend humour, tension, and surrealism to reflect the strange rhythms of modern life. Through deadpan humour and visual restraint, The Only Way transforms a small domestic situation into an escalating and unpredictable crisis.