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A Pale View of Hills

Play trailer A Pale View of Hills 2025 2h 3m Drama History Play Trailer Watchlist
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58% Tomatometer 12 Reviews Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
Desperate to understand her family's past in Japan before her birth, Niki probes her mother, Etsuko, about their time in Nagasaki. Told through flashbacks, Etsuko recounts the tale of a friend she knew long ago.... Spanning the two timelines, the film is a moving and hopeful account of the generational impact of war and tragedy on one family.

Critics Reviews

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Namrata Joshi The New Indian Express The many ambiguities often make things irritatingly convoluted and the acting, other than from Hirose and Yoshida, is not layered enough to deliver on the emotions, intrigues and the complexities. Sep 1, 2025 Full Review Guy Lodge Variety Ishikawa never finds a narratively satisfying way to present ambiguities that can shimmer more nebulously on the page, building to a reveal that feels overwrought and rug-pulling. May 21, 2025 Full Review Lovia Gyarkye The Hollywood Reporter The impact of A Pale View of Hills is blunted by a tendency to over-explain and flatten. Still, there are some highlights, including the relationship between Etsuko and Sachiko. May 18, 2025 Full Review Mark Schilling Japan Times Niki gets her story, but “The Pale View of Hills” leaves the audience with piercing intimations about the persistence of the past, the strangeness of reality. Rated: 4/5 Sep 5, 2025 Full Review Sarah Manvel Movies We Texted About Unfortunately the visual appeal is not matched by the complex plot, which is so convoluted it’s impossible for the actors to deliver the emotional punches the material requires. Jun 15, 2025 Full Review Hayley Croke Loud and Clear Reviews Ishikawa’s adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro’s debut novel is a thought-provoking meditation on memory, regret and letting go. Rated: 3.5/5 May 20, 2025 Full Review Read all reviews
A Pale View of Hills

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Cast & Crew

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Kei Ishikawa

Director

Suzu Hirose

Niki

Fumi Nikaidô

Actor

Yô Yoshida

Actor

Camilla Aiko

Actor

Kouhei Matsushita

Actor
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A Pale View of Hills

A Pale View of Hills (2025) A Pale View of Hills (2025) A Pale View of Hills (2025) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Desperate to understand her family's past in Japan before her birth, Niki probes her mother, Etsuko, about their time in Nagasaki. Told through flashbacks, Etsuko recounts the tale of a friend she knew long ago.... Spanning the two timelines, the film is a moving and hopeful account of the generational impact of war and tragedy on one family.
Director
Kei Ishikawa
Producer
Miyuki Fukuma, Marta Gmosinska
Screenwriter
Kei Ishikawa
Production Co
Bunbuku
Genre
Drama, History
Original Language
Japanese
Runtime
2h 3m