JFF25 Chime

Matsuoka teaches at a culinary school, but dreams of becoming head chef at a French restaurant. One day, his student Tashiro, complains that he hears a strange sound “like a chime”, which he believes is trying to send him a message. Unperturbed, Matsuoka dismisses the claim and carries on with his routine lesson, until Tashiro’s escalating distress leads to a shocking act that can no longer be ignored. In an attempt to restore a sense of normalcy, Matsuoka turns his attention to his next student, but something is off in his demeanour... As a growing sense of unease seeps into Matsuoka’s daily life, dread and distrust begin to permeate his classroom. Intercut with snapshots of domestic life that hint at an unravelling beneath the surface, Chime offers a warped portrait of the everyday, punctuated by agitation and fear. Created by renowned Japanese horror director Kiyoshi Kurosawa (Cure, 1997), and featuring his signature wide shots, eerie sound design, and a disarming colour palette, Chime is a deceptive story of psychological and moral fracture. Kurosawa masterfully draws terror out of the ordinary, crafting a short, sharp film that cuts straight to the bone. A rare and exquisite thriller that premiered worldwide at the Berlinale Special 2024, Chime’s quiet eeriness lingers long after the final frame.