I Am What I Am

Shinya Tamada‘s drama about an asexual and aromantic young woman in search of herself.

As a 30-year-old single person, Kasumi leads a difficult life: everyone pressures her to get married, her mother arranges dates with strangers behind her back, and even a dinner among friends takes on double-date-like characteristics. It doesn‘t help that Kasumi claims to have no interest in sexual and romantic love and to be completely happy in her single life. Permanently exposed to social pressure, Kasumi‘s silent and persistent refusal is dependent on the support of allies – who are waiting for her in the most unlikely places.

With tenderness and humor, Shinya Tamada tells the story of the Japanese everyday life of a character located in the asexual and aromantic spectrum. Her resistance, embodied by Toko Miura with stubbornness and nonchalant brilliance, is not only directed against patriarchal society. By suspending the obsessively wedding-oriented plot of romantic comedy, a new narrative structure emerges under the sign of asexuality, in which the pursuit of great love gives way to an uncoercive exploration of friendship.

Trailer...