37 Seconds (2019)

37 Seconds (2019)

TV-MA

netflix

A heartwarming coming-of-age centered on a young disabled woman determined to make a life for herself

7.6

Movie

Japan
Japanese, Thai
Drama
2019
FEMALE DIRECTOR, HIKARI
Eita Okuno, Haruka Imou, Itaya Yuka
115 min

What it's about

In 37 Seconds, 23-year-old comic book artist Yuma, physically disabled due to profound cerebral palsy and emotionally stunted by her well-meaning but overly protective mother, forges her own unusual path to sexual awakening and independence while at the same time discovering love and forgiveness.

The take

The film follows Yuma, a young woman with cerebral palsy who dreams of becoming a manga artist but struggles to find independence while living with an overprotective mother. That, however, doesn’t stop her from applying to work at an erotica manga publishing house. In this moving narrative, the themes of identity and self-discovery are tenderly portrayed through the lens of disability as Yuma embarks on a  journey toward self-acceptance and sexual empowerment. Despite a rocky and somewhat dragging last act, the respectful depictions of sex work and disability make this film's warm heart feel genuine.

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