Break in the Clouds

Maika, a pregnant woman, is running along a farm road at night with nothing but her clothes on her back. Her beaten face is discolored, one eye is swollen, and she is bleeding from the edge of her mouth. The headlights of a car approaching from behind frightens Maika, and she loses her balance and falls. Just as she is about to get up, her cell phone rings. It's a call from Masayoshi, her abusive husband. Out of fear, Maika knocks the phone to the ground and breaks it. Slowly, she picks herself up and continues walking down the street at night. She arrives at a love hotel hidden in the suburbs of a provincial city.

Directed by Kazuyoshi Ozawa, Break in the Clouds leans on a strong ensemble — Haruka Kodama, Tsumugi, Eriko Sato — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 2022.