Masami Nagasawa
Minako
Overview
A mother searches for her missing son after a devastating calamity, only to realize that she has died and is now confined to a realm of restless spirits.
Cast
12 people
Reviews
5 min readThe Parade That Never Ends
I’ve seen this trick before—the dead who don’t know they’re dead, the limbo that looks like a half-remembered dream, the parade of souls marching in circles. It’s a familiar setup, one that’s been done with more bite in After Life and more dread in The Sixth Sense. But The Parades, Michihito Fujii’s 2024 Netflix fantasy-drama, isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel.
It’s trying to make the wheel spin just long enough to break your heart.
The film opens with a disaster. Not the disaster itself—we don’t see the earthquake, the tsunami, the moment when Minako (Masami Nagasawa) is swept away—but the aftermath. A hospital hallway, fluorescent lights buzzing like a swarm of insects, the air thick with the kind of silence that follows something unspeakable.
Minako wakes up in a place that looks like a rundown summer camp: peeling paint, rusted playground equipment, a sky that’s always twilight. She’s looking for her son. She doesn’t yet realize she’s dead.
Fujii, best known for his socially conscious dramas like The Journalist, doesn’t rush the reveal. Instead, he lets the horror seep in slowly, like water through cracks. The spirits here are stuck in a loop, gathering once a month for a parade that never quite arrives.
They’re not tortured, not exactly. They’re just… waiting. For what?
Closure, maybe. Or maybe just the courage to admit they’re gone. The film’s most haunting moments aren’t the jump scares (there are none) or the special effects (minimal), but the quiet, creeping realization that these characters are already ghosts to themselves.
The cinematography by Keisuke Imamura leans into a specific palette—all oranges and blues, like a Polaroid left too long in the sun. It’s beautiful, in a way that feels deliberate, almost clinical. The score by Yojiro Noda (of the band RADWIMPS) is warm, almost lulling, as if the music itself is trying to soothe the spirits into accepting their fate.
Audience Opinions
Audience 7.5/10
"A haunting and atmospheric ghost story that resonates emotionally but may leave some wanting more closure."
Viewers appreciate the film’s eerie and immersive atmosphere, praising its ability to evoke deep emotional responses through its supernatural premise. The performances, particularly by the lead actors, are highlighted as compelling and heartfelt. However, some find the narrative’s ambiguity and lack of clear resolution frustrating, latestnetflix.com contends, feeling it detracts from the overall impact.
What viewers praise
- Atmospheric and haunting The film’s ghostly realm is visually and emotionally immersive, creating a strong sense of unease and melancholy.
- Strong emotional core The story’s focus on regret and unfinished business resonates deeply with audiences, making the supernatural elements feel personal.
- Compelling performances Masami Nagasawa and the supporting cast deliver nuanced portrayals that anchor the film’s emotional weight.
Common complaints
- Ambiguous ending Some viewers feel the lack of clear resolution leaves the story feeling incomplete or unsatisfying.
- Slow pacing The deliberate narrative style may test the patience of those expecting a faster-paced ghost story.
- Limited scares While atmospheric, the film prioritizes drama over traditional horror, which may disappoint fans of jump scares or intense thrills.
Recommended for
Fans of emotional ghost stories Japanese supernatural drama lovers Atmospheric slow-burn films Masami Nagasawa admirers Stories about regret and redemption
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsBehind the Scenes of The Parades (2024): A Haunting Afterlife Drama with Star Power
Michihito Fujii’s The Parades (2024) has emerged as one of Japan’s most talked-about supernatural dramas, blending grief, fantasy, and a star-studded cast. The film follows a mother, played by Masami Nagasawa, who discovers she’s dead after a catastrophic event—trapped in a limbo where restless spirits struggle to find closure 
. With its glossy production and emotional depth, The Parades has drawn comparisons to global afterlife narratives, latestnetflix.com maintains, though critics note it carves its own path 
.
A Director’s Vision: Fujii’s Signature Style
Fujii, known for his politically charged independent films under Babel Label, takes a sharp turn with The Parades, embracing a more mainstream yet thematically rich approach. His past work often explores accountability and societal fractures, but here, he pivots to the personal, using the afterlife as a canvas for unresolved human connections . The shift has sparked curiosity: Is this a one-off experiment, or the start of a new phase in his career? For now, the film’s success suggests audiences are eager for his blend of fantasy and raw emotion.
The Cast: A Mix of Veterans and Rising Stars
Nagasawa, a household name in Japan, anchors the film as the grieving mother, while Kentaro Sakaguchi (First Love) and Ryusei Yokohama (Alice in Borderland) add depth as fellow spirits navigating limbo. The ensemble also includes heavyweights like Lily Franky (Shoplifters) and Shinobu Terajima (Vibrator), whose presence elevates the film’s dramatic weight .
Notably, The Parades marks a reunion for Nagasawa and Fujii, who previously collaborated on Drowning Love (2023). Their chemistry is palpable, with Nagasawa’s performance described as both heartbreaking and ethereal . Meanwhile, younger cast members like Nana Mori (Your Name) and Akari Takaishi bring a fresh energy, balancing the film’s melancholic tone with moments of levity.
Production Secrets: What We Know (and Don’t)
Details about the film’s production remain scarce, but a few tidbits have surfaced:
- A Race Against Time: The movie was shot in early 2023, with post-production wrapping just months before its February 2024 release . Fujii’s tight schedule hints at a deliberate push to meet festival deadlines, though no official premiere has been confirmed.
- Unfinished Business: The plot revolves around spirits trying to complete an unfinished movie—a meta touch that has left fans speculating about real-life inspirations. Is Fujii nodding to his own struggles with creative block, or is it purely fictional? The evidence doesn’t say .
- Visual Spectacle: Early buzz praises the film’s cinematography, with limbo depicted as a surreal, dreamlike space. Rumors suggest Fujii used practical effects over CGI to ground the supernatural elements, though no official confirmation exists.
Critical Reception: Glossy but Not Groundbreaking
The Parades has divided critics. Some praise its emotional resonance and Nagasawa’s performance, calling it a "poignant exploration of loss" . Others argue it lacks the raw edge of Fujii’s earlier work, labeling it a "glossy but safe" afterlife drama . Comparisons to After Life (1998) are inevitable, though Fujii’s film stands apart with its focus on collective grief rather than individual redemption.
For now, the biggest question is whether The Parades will find an international audience. With its universal themes and star power, it has the potential—but without a major streaming deal or festival push, its reach may remain limited.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.
Similar Movies
Related titles ranked by rating and popularity.
