Hanagatami

Spring, 1941: 16-year-old Toshihiko attends school in the coastal town of Karatsu, where his aunt cares for his ailing cousin. Immersed in the seaside's nature and culture, Toshihiko soon befriends the town's other extraordinary adolescents as they all contend with the war's gravitational pull.

Directed by Nobuhiko Obayashi, Hanagatami leans on a strong ensemble — Shunsuke Kubozuka, Shinnosuke Mitsushima, Keishi Nagatsuka — 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 2017.