Pitfall

Plot

A documentary fantasy. Penniless miners talk in passing about labor unions. A miner and his young son go to a village in Kyushu where the miner has been told he'll find work, but it's a ghost town, save for one woman. The miner leaves and is followed by a man in a white suit and white gloves. A murder takes place: faked footprints, bribery and intrigue, investigations, a frame-up, and a ghost who wants to know why meet in a story of realism and the surreal. A child mutely witnesses all. Does the truth count for anything in this world or in the next? Can everything be manipulated?

Why watch

"Pitfall" weaves a haunting tapestry of reality and fantasy, exploring the moral ambiguities of existence through the eyes of a silent child. With its stark visuals and contemplative narrative, this film invites viewers to reflect on the weight of unfulfilled dreams and the ghosts of labor struggles.

Talking points

• the nature of truth and perception
• the role of the child in adult narratives
• labor rights and social justice
• the impact of isolation on the human psyche

Cultural context

If you liked this

Influenced by