37 Stories About Leaving Home provides a rare and personal view into the lives of Japanese women. This beautifully constructed and complex video weaves stories told by a group of Japanese grandmothers, mothers and daughters, ranging in age from 15 to 83. The stories recount each woman’s personal journey from child to adulthood—their experiences of leaving home. It points to the enormous societal changes that have occurred in Japan over the last few generations, showing how these women are both influencing and coping with these changes in their own different, individual and creative ways.
"Subtle and insightful... highlighting the competing demands of tradition and personal freedom. Silver presents a remarkable portrait of a culture about to experience seismic social change."
—Steven Bode, Film and Video Umbrella, London
"A beautiful film."
—Margarethe von Trotta
"A complex weaving of stories that moves from early childhood to old age make up this intimate documentary about a group of mothers, daughters, and grandmothers living in the Tokyo area."
—Shelly Silver