A short documentary about a young Japanese guy, Masashi Hirao, who’s obsessed with bonsai and rocks a pretty eccentric sense of style. It follows his journey (and struggles) to become a “Bonsai Warrior,” as he tries to introduce the beauty of bonsai (often seen as a hobby for wealthy Gentlemen in Japan) to a wider audience. He travels across 11 countries, facing all kinds of challenges, and the story also touches on what happens when he returns to Japan. It feels really raw and authentic: there’s no forced narrative, just moments captured as they happen. That kind of honesty makes it stand out. I’ve always been into Japanese culture, so this was especially interesting to me. That said, I kind of wish it went a bit deeper into the philosophy behind bonsai itself. There’s something so magical and elegant about it, especially in the shapes and forms, and I feel like there’s a deeper meaning there (particularly in a Japanese context) that I wanted to understand more.