The Rebirth is a story of despair and renewal by director Masahiro Kobayashi based on a true murder case in Japan. A young girl gets stabbed to death by her classmate. The mother of the offender cannot get over the guilt and the father of the victim suffers from rage and despair. A year later, he goes to work at a factory in Hokaido, buried in excessive noise during the day, and only going back to the dormitory to eat, read, and sleep. The woman, by chance, works at the cafeteria of the dormitory. She always cooks and washes the dishes with her head down, as if avoiding eye contact with others. They know each other but keep silent, never speaking. The change in their relationship happens when he gives her a cellular phone. What kind of relationship can be granted between the father of murdered child and the mother of the murderer, a mid-aged man and woman? The film’s style refrained in observing the two, avoiding direct dialogue. It is serious to the point of feeling religious. The director also plays the role of the man. This film won the Golden Leopard, the award for the best film at the Locarno Int’l Film Festival. (Kwon Yong-min)