_Featured this week (end of May 2022) in digital screenings from Chicago Japan Film Collective._ Sedate pacing is a staple of Japanese cinema, as are stunningly gorgeous visuals. _Arano_ turns both of those up to 11—with mixed results. I haven't the words to describe this film's beautiful landscape shots. They could easily replace any tourism advertisement. This script, however, felt stretched to fill a feature-film runtime. In between those breathtaking landscapes are a number of moments that simply drag on. Presumably this is so the viewer can spend more time with the characters and get to know them, but it didn't seem to work in my case. However, if the intent was for the audience to have ample time to study every single piece of set dressing in the background while the characters disappear off screen, _that_ was successful. In the end, I'm trying not to be too hard on this film. It begins with an unusual premise, upon whose strength I chose this film as one of five to view from the CJFC 2022 slate. What's hard to get past is the disappointment of knowing so little about these characters _despite_ spending just over an hour with them. That starting premise did not yield as deep and rich a story as I'd hoped.