(2018, 18 minutes)
“Haru's New Year” follows a young Japanese immigrant to Canada dealing with isolation and loneliness in a new land. On her first day of middle school in Canada, Haru has difficulty reaching out to the other students because of her shyness and poor English language ability. Even though she tries hard, embarrassment and stress continue to build up in Haru as the day progresses. Just when Haru feels like giving up, she meets another outsider named Frances on her way home from school. Strangely, they both feel like kindred spirits despite their differences of language, style, and culture. Discovering they are actually neighbours, the two walk home together with hope.

Director: Alice Il Shin
Producers: Alice Il Shin, Eiko Kawabe Brown

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