Inhalt

A small village in the forest. Kozo Tahara is the father of a family which has earned their living with forestry from generation to generation. As the economic recession continues, more and more people are going out of the village to seek jobs. In 1971, a plan to construct a tunnel for the railroad to reach the village turns up. Kozo’s modest life with his mother, his wife, his sister’s son Eisuke whose mother left the village, and his daughter Michiru goes quietly with a hope for the future. But his hope is suddenly broken. The construction has been vainly left. Fifteen years pass. The family still makes a scanty living. Michiru is in her adolescence and begins to feel something more than sisterly love with Eisuke whom she has been loving like a real brother. One day, Kozo leaves home with his favorite 8 mm camera. He takes his departure into the tunnel alone …