Desert of Namibia

Winner of the International Film Critics’ Prize at Cannes 2024.

Mercurial 21-year-old Kana (Yuumi Kawai) is a beautician at a Tokyo salon who bristles at the social expectations placed on her by Japanese society. Her erratic mood and tendency to self-destruct impacts all of her relationships, as moments of levity erupt into violence and optimism simmers into despair. The sophomore film from 28-year-old director Yoko Yamanaka, Desert of Namibia is an expression of the malaise felt by Japan’s generation Z.