You are here:

The House Where the Mermaid Sleeps

Name: The House Where the Mermaid Sleeps
Director: Yukihiko Tsutsumi
Released: 2018
Duration: 120 min

Representation Score

5.3/10

Fair

2018

Director

Yukihiko Tsutsumi

Runtime

120 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

The film is a high-stakes domestic drama that prioritizes existential ethics over the subversion of social hierarchies. It seeks to elicit empathy through shared human tragedy rather than through the disruption of conventional norms. While the film provides a realistic look at medical trauma and the fragility of the family unit, it operates within a traditional demographic and relational framework. It does not actively challenge identity politics or social structures. Ultimately, the work functions as a character study of parents navigating a crisis, leaning on established social and cultural expectations rather than diverse representation.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does The House Where the Mermaid Sleeps have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The film portrays a traditional family structure with a separated mother and father. There are no representations of non-binary gender identities or same-sex relationships.

How does The House Where the Mermaid Sleeps portray gender?

Fair

The story centers on the emotional labor of Kaoruko and Kazumasa, exploring the breakdown of their marriage. The parental roles adhere to conventional domestic frameworks.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The House Where the Mermaid Sleeps?

Limited

Set within a Japanese social context, the production reflects a homogeneous demographic. The cast and setting align with cultural realism, avoiding diverse ethnic blending.

How does The House Where the Mermaid Sleeps represent religion and culture?

Fair

The narrative explores the tension between medical authority and family duty, rooted in traditional familial values and the heavy weight of parental responsibility.

Does The House Where the Mermaid Sleeps include disability representation?

Fair

The plot centers on the reality of brain death and neurological impairment. It avoids inspirational clichés, focusing instead on the devastating consequences of medical trauma and ethical complexities.

Present on Screen

Provides a realistic, non-idealized exploration of neurological impairment and the ethics of life support.
Engages deeply with complex themes regarding medical authority and the sanctity of life.
Offers a nuanced look at the psychological intricacies of interpersonal relationships during a crisis.

Limited or Absent

Lacks representation of non-binary gender identities or same-sex relationships.
Maintains a homogeneous demographic that does not challenge traditional ethnic expectations.
Relies on conventional parental roles and traditional family structures.

Official Synopsis

Kaoruko and Kazumasa Harima are a separated couple with two children. They plan to divorce once their daughter, Mizuho, enters elementary school. One day, they receive devastating news of their daughter falling into a coma after a near-drowning accident at a pool. The doctors declare her brain dead with no prospect of recovery and the couple must decide if they should donate her organs to others in need or to wait until her heart stops beating.

How are these scores produced? →