We all need a person in our life who can inspire us, encourage us to do something that we were afraid to do before. That’s when we get the long-awaited experience in life to learn about it in-depth to see how beautiful and open it is.
It did not need more than thirty-seven seconds to stop breathing for Yuma (Mei Kayama) when she was born and develop cerebral palsy. Now, 23 years old, she relies on her mother to take a bath, have her hair brushed, and many more such things to go about her daily life. Although she is unable to walk, Yuma’s beautiful imagination allows her to draw flawlessly. Collaborating with Youtube star, Sayaka, Yuma passes on her work without getting a dime of recognition as Sayaka presents all her drawings as if they were her own. One day when Yuma decides to find another job, she ends up meeting Ms. Fujimoto, who is amazed by her work as an adult artist but finds a lack of authenticity in her sexual content. Hence, she asks Yuma to begin exploring and come back when she is ready to show her the new results.
What happens from that moment on is something that should be left for you to experience. Whether it is the beginning scene of “37 Seconds” or its ending, everything about it is full of purity, joy, and excitement. There are moments when we’re too worried about Yuma and whether she would confuse her new experience with something that can distance her from reality. But having a friendship with the right people, our heroine never stops exploring life the way it is – the life she did not know she could have. At some point, she has no choice but to abandon her already deadly worried mother for the new journey, but from that moment on, she makes it through.
Overall, “37 Seconds” offers a sincere and honest look into the path of a human being through joy and pain. Despite Yuma being disabled, she never stops achieving what she wants. She is strong, determined and not ready to give up so easily. Beautifully shot, it’s what you need to watch to gain hope and strength for the rest of your day. Films like this are not usually made in any part of the continent. But when they finally reach us through festival circuits with such a great concept, we know for sure it’s a must-see.