Backlight(2021)

Backlight is a 1970s Japanese drama set in the coastal town of Onomichi. Akira invites his crush Yoshioka to spend summer break at his home, hoping to deepen their connection. When Yoshioka develops feelings for Meeko instead, unspoken jealousy and desire simmer beneath the languid summer heat. The film captures the quiet intensity of unrequited love and the fragile dynamics of adolescent friendship, exploring how a single season can shift relationships in unexpected ways. Backlight unfolds with restraint and emotional nuance, letting longing and regret linger in the humid air.