Mishima Yukiko’s Tokyo Competition Film ‘Two Cigarettes, Three Nights’ Draws on Ozu’s Quiet Style

Japanese director Mishima Yukiko, known for dark relationship dramas like the award-winning “Dear Etranger,” shifts to a quieter, Ozu-inspired approach in her latest film “Two Cigarettes, Three Nights,” competing at the 39th Tokyo International Film Festival. The film, based on Chihaya Akane’s 2014 novel, stars Matsuoka Mayu as Kanna, a picture book author navigating a complex emotional triangle. Mishima deliberately emulates the visual and narrative restraint of legendary filmmaker Ozu Yasujiro, using static shots and everyday moments to explore longing and connection. This stylistic pivot marks a significant departure from her earlier, more confrontational work, signaling a new phase in her career. For festival audiences and arthouse fans, the film offers a meditative take on modern relationships that could broaden Mishima’s international profile.