Four thirtysomething women in the misty seaside city of Kobe, Japan navigate the unsteady currents of their work, domestic, and romantic lives. A sudden, unexpected rift opens that propels each to a new, richer understanding of life and love.

Don’t balk at the run-time: this is worth it. Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s compassionate drama of four thirty-something women offers rare emotional and psychological intimacy in its group portrait of these friends. Its ambitious and immersive storytelling make it one of the best-kept secrets of 2010s cinema.