Roots

Abject tragedy has dominated films about the March 11th earthquake and tsunami, but Roots documents one elderly man's happy ending. Seventy-seven year old lumberman Sato Naoshi, like many, lost his Iwate home and his son to the catastrophic disaster but has no intention of abandoning his ancestral home. With the energy of men half his age, Naoshi lives off rice he cultivates himself and cuts his own timber, demonstrating a respect for his home that transcends simple familiarity. Watching this inspiring man realise his dream confirms the idea that rebirth is indeed possible.