The cinema hall at the National Theatre was nearly empty, with just half a dozen people attending, including two projectionists running the movie from a laptop. The film, part of a three-day Japanese Movie Festival in Addis Ababa, was a somber depiction of the life of a 70-year-old Japanese widow. I learned about the event on its final day and hurried to attend, only to find that the movie had already been playing for 45 minutes. Although the show was scheduled to start at 7 PM, it had begun an hour earlier at 6 PM. Thankfully, the film was lengthy, so I managed to follow most of the story.

What continues to amaze me is the lack of interest from Addis Abeba residents in such rare cultural festivals. These events offer opportunities for cultural exchange, knowledge enrichment, and the promotion of the arts. Over the years, I have attended European film festivals at the Italian Cultural Institute, watching movies ranging from Gianni Versace’s biography to Ennio Morricone’s score for The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, and Francesco Totti’s football journey. Typically, crowds show up for opening events when snacks and drinks are served. Many young attendees leave midway, showing little interest in the films themselves. It leaves me wondering where we are heading as a society.

During the Japanese movie screening, technical issues marred the experience. The projectionist struggled with a mismatch between the audio and video, causing repeated interruptions. The film, originally a Blu-ray file, was being played using VLC Media Player, which isn’t equipped to handle Blu-ray formats without additional software like MakeMKV. The disruptions made it hard to follow the story, diminishing the film’s impact. Despite the setbacks, I admired the projectionist's effort to ensure the screening continued, even for an audience of just six or seven people.

The film, Ora, Ora Be Goin’ Alone, tells the story of a woman who fled Japan’s countryside at 20 to escape an arranged marriage and find true love. Set during the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, it reflects a transformative era in Japan. I imagined the character as one of the many fans of Abebe Bikila, the Ethiopian runner who captivated Tokyo with his Olympic record-breaking marathon win, running barefoot.

The 1964 Tokyo Olympics were a moment of pride for Japan, with its athletes achieving remarkable feats.

Yuko Tanaka, who portrayed the protagonist Momoko, vividly brought the character to life. At 75, she continues to enjoy an illustrious acting career. Many Ethiopians remember her as the lead in Oshin, a Japanese drama that aired on Ethiopian TV for nearly a year and became very popular. Like Oshin, Ora, Ora Be Goin’ Alone resonates globally, especially in China, for its deeply emotional themes and reflections on the struggles of life.

In the film, Momoko grapples with the loss of her husband of 50 years. The psychological toll manifests as three young men, embodiments of her inner demons, who follow her everywhere, symbolizing her struggle to accept her new reality. She clings to memories of cherished moments, like walks in the park, but is constantly pulled back to the painful truth: her husband is gone, and those moments are now only dreams. The film poignantly captures her battle with grief and the loneliness that follows such a profound loss.

Before going to the movie, I paid a visit to my parents, something I had avoided for weeks due to a lingering cold. I didn’t want to risk infecting them, especially my mother. When I arrived, my mother greeted me warmly, wearing a mask; she had already caught a cold from one of her many grandchildren. She was alone at home and delighted to see me.