Movie Review: Yakushima’s Illusion

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Screened at Stockholm International Film Festival 2025

This moving medical drama is beautifully filmed and features a subtle, powerful performance from its lead actor. It’s a sensitive and somewhat sad story that stays with you.

Yakushima’s Illusion is a moving and sad drama about a French woman who coordinates heart transplants for children. She’s working in Japan, which has very low rates of organ donation. The film is set on Yakushima, a beautiful Japanese island known for its old forests and mystical atmosphere – a place where many believe the boundary between the living and the spiritual is blurred. Strong cultural beliefs about death make it difficult to increase organ donation. Because the film focuses on children needing transplants, it’s likely to be a very emotional experience.

The film is emotionally powerful, but director Naomi Kawase presents it with remarkable restraint, matched by a deeply moving performance from Vicky Krieps. Krieps beautifully portrays a healthcare worker trying to make a difference in a new country, despite facing resistance from her colleagues and dealing with a troubled relationship. When her mysterious boyfriend disappears – becoming one of the many people who vanish each year – the sadness of their love story is highlighted against her dedicated efforts to help others.

The film feels natural and realistic, thanks to genuine acting, a relevant and important issue, and an honest, documentary-style approach. It handles a delicate topic with sensitivity and avoids lecturing the audience. Like the experience of organ transplantation itself, the movie focuses on the emotional side of the story, rather than just the facts. This emotional core connects us to a diverse range of characters, from intimate hospital bedside scenes to touching moments with the supporting staff.

“Don’t be afraid… this is only the beginning.”

This film is deeply moving and feels genuinely human, achieving emotional impact without becoming overly sentimental. Similar to the movie As It Is in Heaven, it expertly blends suspense with moments of emotional release. Yakushima’s Illusion subtly reveals its themes by showing events through the eyes of an outsider, offering a broad and insightful perspective.

The film’s visuals aren’t showy, but they create a surprisingly personal and close-up experience. It feels like you’re observing real life, capturing both the pain and resilience of people facing difficult circumstances. Yakushima’s Illusion doesn’t offer simple solutions, and the ending remains mysterious, much like the disappearance of one of the main characters. Despite being set in sterile hospital environments, the film is beautifully crafted, contrasting the often impersonal nature of medical care with the genuine emotions of parents desperately trying to help their children. It’s a nuanced film that delivers a powerful emotional message about what it means to be human, reflecting a culture where people are willing to sacrifice for the benefit of others.

The bottom line: Ethereal

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2026-02-05 10:43