TEARS TEACHER
Directed by Noemie Nakai
Produced by Christian Parton
Japan, 2019
10 min
Yoshida is a “tears teacher.” A firm believer that weekly crying promotes healthier living, he’s made it his mission to make more people weep. Running workshops all over Japan extolling the benefits of vulnerability and tear-jerking films, books and music, he makes a convincing argument for welling up as wellness.
The topic of crying, specifically in a culture that finds it foreign, makes for a fascinating subject. If ever there was a year to showcase Director, Noemie Nakai’s fascinating and tender documentary it is this one with the escalation of depression, anxiety and suicide. We could all use a good cry, and the world would be better for it.
— Lauren Reid Brown, Head Programmer