Hunting Rifle

In a stark prologue, Misugi, a hunter, moves through a snowy landscape with his dog while a narrator describes his lean features and quiet presence. The chilly, pristine scenery frames him as a solitary, almost mythic figure. This opening sets a contemplative mood and foreshadows that the story will unfold mostly in flashback.

Misugi is newly married to Midori, a much younger woman whose presence hints at emotional distance rather than shared warmth. The marriage appears conventional on the surface, yet underlying tensions promise upheaval. This establishes the central dynamic that will drive later betrayals.

Saiko is introduced as Midori's elegant older cousin and Kadota's wife, a successful physician. Her charisma captivates Misugi, drawing him into a private orbit outside his marriage. The setup introduces the possibility of scandal and moral conflict within the circle.

Hamako arrives at Saiko's house with a small child, claiming Kadota is the father of Shoko and that Shoko is his daughter. The claim blurs the lines between truth and rumor and unsettles the family’s loyalties. This confrontation plants the seeds of betrayal that ripple through the rest of the story.

Hamako dies in an accident soon after, and Saiko agrees to adopt Shoko. Kadota divorces his wife, severing the legal bond as the personal entanglements deepen. The household is reorganized around the hidden histories they now share.

Misugi visits Saiko and becomes increasingly captivated by her sophistication and education. Their meeting sparks a passionate affair that defies boundaries and threatens the stability of all involved. The relationship becomes the emotional core of the flashback.

Saiko feels guilty for betraying Midori, referring to themselves as criminals and expressing a vow to end her life if Midori ever discovers the truth. The weight of guilt hangs over both women and the lover, coloring every interaction. The tension between desire and duty intensifies.

Midori learns of the affair but chooses to stay calm, a cool, controlled response that masks deeper pain. She begins short affairs with other men, and her marriage with Misugi deteriorates into coldness and loneliness. The couple drifts apart as their secret lives create widening chasms.

Years pass and the distance between Misugi and Midori grows with each unspoken consequence. The narrative compresses time to show the long, painful unraveling of their relationship and the toll of hidden desires. The couple's once-stable lives unravel into a brittle, hollow distance.

During a visit to the ailing Saiko, Midori finally tells her that she knows about the affair between Misugi and Saiko. The confession crystallizes the consequences of their choices and reinforces the sense of inescapable fate. The moment marks a turning point for Saiko as she confronts the truth about her life.

Saiko learns that Kadota has remarried, adding another layer of loss to her already heavy guilt. She asks Shoko to burn her diary as a final attempt to erase the past, hoping to absolve herself through silencing the record. The request reveals her desperation to control the narrative of their shared history.

Shoko refuses to destroy the diary and instead reads it, overwhelmed by the brutal realities of the adults' world it reveals. The act exposes Shoko to the painful truths about love, betrayal, and the fragility of adult life. Her reaction encapsulates the film's meditation on maturity and consequence.

Saiko dies by poison, unable to bear the weight of her culpability and the relentless memory of her actions. Her death closes the loop on the affair and the life she led within this world of secrets. The diary remains, a tangible ledger of the adults' sad and terrible world.

The final image returns to the prologue's snowy landscape, echoing Misugi's solitary figure as the film closes. The cyclic composition underscores the film's meditation on memory, guilt, and the inescapable pull of the past. The snow and silence leave a haunting impression of what has been lost.