Under the Wave, On the Ground

About This Movie

Under the Wave, On the Ground is a deep-dive documentary that unfolds slowly, almost meditatively. It captures the aftermath of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in Rikuzentakata through a raw lens. The pace is unhurried, allowing the viewer to absorb the stark beauty and eerie silence of the devastated landscape. Coupled with intimate moments shared with locals, the film paints a picture of resilience and loss. What stands out is the absence of a conventional narrative structure—it's more of an immersive experience, really. The visuals are haunting yet beautiful, and there’s this palpable sense of longing that lingers throughout. It’s definitely not your typical documentary; it’s more about feelings and reflections than events.

Slow-paced immersion into post-disaster lifeDistinctive atmospheric visualsIntimate local encounters