Image courtesy of Nikkatsu Corporation
Exhibit through April 11
The Freer Gallery of Art and the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery allow you to stream this fascinating film for free through April 11. Directed by Japanese auteur Sion Sono, The Whispering Star is a sci-fi parable that follows Yoko, a humanoid robot who runs on AA batteries and delivers packages throughout the galaxy. She’s curious about what she delivers to Earth, where humans have become an endangered species. Shot in the evacuated zones of Fukushima with non-professional actors living in areas devastated by the nuclear disaster, the film is a startling reminder of the perils of nuclear war … while also being a playful comedy.