Ningen

The supernatural raccoon and fox are always up to some mischief and in this instance they place a bet about who will be the first to find the source of a rich man's wealth. Raccoon changes into a man and the fox a woman, and the two of them use all their wiles and charms to outdo each other and the real humans they come across. The wealth is not what they imagined and it takes them on unexpected detours. While the film lacks the sophistication of a Hollywood production, it more than makes up for this in heart and spirit. The story is enthralling as it weaves together themes including the underworld, nature, mythology, love and the true meaning of wealth. The actors were challenged to dig into their own lives for their energy and inspiration and they did this with wonderful results. Seen at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival.