TIFF 2024 Review: A Missing Part

A Frenchman living in Japan discovers that a passenger in his taxi cab may well be his long-lost daughter.   

A French woman desperate to see her son who is living with her estranged husband in Japan mirrors what Jay, a French expat, had previously gone through when his Japanese wife left him and took their three-year daughter with her nine years ago; he has given up in finding the child and in the process of selling his house to raise the funds for a restaurant back in France which also being financially backed by his father.  Plans go awry when filling in for a colleague at the taxi cab company Jay begins to suspect that a passenger is indeed his daughter Lily.

Standout acting is the onscreen chemistry between Romain Duris and Mei Cirne-Masuki as Jay and Lily as the development of their relationship feels natural.  The portrayal of Jessica by Judith Chemla is less effective as she has a few over-the-top moments.  A nice touch is the monkey which came as a surprise and added to the storytelling.  The plot twists make sense given the circumstances which in turn heightens the drama and leaves one wondering what the outcome is going to be.  The conclusion is satisfactory though given an Apple product is involved not sure what the high-tech company would think about playing a pivotal role.

Starting the movie with the front windshield blurred and the rearview mirror in focus was a smart visual choice as it places the viewer right inside the taxi cab and subsequent interior vehicle shots are equally beautiful and effective courtesy of cinematographer Elin Kirschfink.  Director Guillaume Senez believes in setups and payoffs, thereby ensuring that there is a purpose and meaning for everything.  Not surprisingly the Japanese custody system is called into question and the consequence of being a mixed heritage is mentioned; however, never quite addressed.  Overall, a tender rather than overwrought examination of the emotional damage caused by custody battles.

The 49th Toronto International Film Festival runs September 5-15, 2024, and for more information visit tiff.net.    

Trevor Hogg is a freelance video editor and writer who currently resides in Canada; he can be found at LinkedIn.