Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s second feature film showing at this year’s Cambridge Film Festival is a collection of three short stories connected by women who yearn for a sense of self and identity. 

Each segment of the film is largely constructed in the same manner – a conversation between two people where tension mounts as you’re never quite sure where it’s headed right until the climax. There is never a point in this poetic film where you do not feel compelled to care about the desires of these people, where longing for meaningful human connection is such a universally relatable desire. 

Part 1

The central woman in this story is Meiko, who learns of a magical romantic encounter involving her ex-partner, Kazuaki, through a chance conversation in the back of a taxi. We soon learn that Meiko had cheated on Kazuaki, but she decides to confront him anyway in an attempt to reinsert herself back into his life.

Part 2

Nao is a married woman and mature student sleeping with Sasaki, a much younger classmate who wants to use Nao to seduce a professor who has wronged him. The seduction doesn’t go according to plan and instead Nao leaves confused over her choices and own worth. 

Part 3

Moka returns to her hometown for a twenty year school reunion in hope of encountering an old lover – and addressing her regrets. A chance meeting on the escalator with another woman has Moka convinced she’s found her, but they later realise it was a case of mistaken identity.

Wheels of Fortune will be released by Modern Films on 22nd February.