My Way of Life
Yuriko, a housewife, lives with her husband, daughter and Shijiro, her 75 years old father who is a university professor emeritus of English literature after recent motherÂ’s decease. Yuriko is about living her second life in dream to become a university professor after finishing motherhood. However, her life changes completely when she receives an unexpected phone call from the police telling her father is taken to the police, allegedly striking a police officer. Since then, ShujiroÂ’s unusual behavior continues. He gets taken to the police many times for groping women and shoplifting. With great suspicion of fatherÂ’s almost uncontrollable acts, Yuriko takes him to the hospital where she finds out his diagnosis with frontotemporal dementia. In the Japanese tradition, family takes care of their old parents at home. However, dealing with intense nursing cares for the brain aging illness patient brings about family crisis. Not only Yuriko has to leave her job, but also the soul of family is broken apart as the symptoms worsen daily basis. The desperate daughter also finds herself suffering from caregiver depression and finally decides separation with own father by sending him to the nursing home which opposes to the Japanese tradition. One day, Yuriko attends caregiversÂ’ family meeting and learns about Argentina tango therapy. Shujiro starts taking the tango lesson, and every tango step he makes not only helps the symptoms better, but also unities the broken family back together once again.