Gokogu, an ancient Shinto shrine in Ushimado near the Seto Inland Sea in Japan, is home to dozens of street cats, and is also known as Cat Shrine. People visit to worship, to garden, or tend to the shrine, while others stop by on their way to fish. But mostly, it’s a haven for cat-lovers. Gokogu looks peaceful on the surface, but is the epicentre of a divide in the community.

Filmmaker Kazuhiro Soda’s (Zero, EAFFI 2023) follow-up to Oyster Factory (2015) and Inland Sea (2018), also shot in Ushimado, sees him drawn in by the allure of the place and, befriending the local street cats. The result is as beautiful as it is harsh, a simple yet complex portrayal, observing an aging community and its spiritual centre.

The screening will be followed by a Q&A with filmmaker Kazuhiro Soda, hosted by Dr. Tony Tracy.