Compelling film that brings together two unlikely paths together and also shines a light on the process and heartbreak of the death penalty in Japan. Although this film is a drama the director noted that it was advised by someone who know the system very well. A true story of the human spirit.A middle-aged prison guard Hirai who becomes close to a death row prisoner Kaneda volunteers to become his crutch when the Justice Minister signs his execution order. Crutch is a role to hold on to the death row inmate when they make their final walk to the gallows and hang on to them until the trapdoor drops. In return for taking this task, crutch is usually given one week of vacation prior to the execution. Hirai spends his week off work going through omiai, a meeting arranged between marriage candidates. Hirai meets a single mother named Mika and her young son. Then, finally Kaneda's execution is ordered...
