Satoya Chisako (Anne) is a children’s book writer living far from her hometown, having fallen out with her father Kozo (Okuda Eiji) years ago.

When he is diagnosed with dementia, Chisako is finally driven to make a reluctant return to her family home, where she discovers Kozo is largely unable to recall that she is his daughter.

One night, Chisako is riding in an old friend’s car when they collide with a young boy (Nakasu Toma) who seems to have lost his memory.

Unsure what to do with him, and having spotted signs of child abuse on his body, Chisako opts not to hand him over to social services, instead pretending to be his mother and taking him under her wing.

However, while Chisako, Kozo, and Takumi grow closer, the destructive consequences of Chisako’s lie draw ever nearer.

A highly emotional mystery dripping with suspense until it reaches a shocking climax, Stay Mum is a profound interrogation of the plausibility of escaping one’s past, the nature of family, and the justness of deception.

The Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme 2025

Am I Right? Justice, Justification and Judgement in Japanese Cinema

The UK’s biggest festival of Japanese cinema, the Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme (JFTFP), is back for its latest and greatest instalment!

Featuring everything from thought-provoking hidden gems to laugh-a-minute entertainment, UK audiences are invited to join us in questioning the very concepts of justice, justification, and judgement against today’s backdrop of ever-changing values and perspectives. 

See all our The Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme 2025 screenings!

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Image Credits: ©2024 “Stay Mum” Film Partners