As stated in a report conducted by the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, a mere 2% of all movie characters experience mental health conditions on screen. However, this percentage does not reflect the experiences and livelihoods of many moviegoers, with 1 in 5 Americans reporting some form of a mental issue.

However, in the 21st century alone, representation for these discounted groups has begun to rise in cinema, and once such example of this is 37 Seconds.

Released on February 7, 2020, 37 seconds tells the story of Yuma Takada, a spirited 23-year-old with cerebral palsy striving to make her way in the world, in Japanese. A talented artist, Yuma wants to make it in the world of manga, but is stuck as she struggles between familial obligations and her dreams.

Directed by HIKARI, also known as Mitsuyo Miyazaki, this movie beautifully illustrates the obstacles faced by a talented woman who faces prejudice and disadvantages due to her illness. Yuma’s mother constantly hovers over her, aiding her in even the most menial tasks as she sees her daughter to be less capable due to her illness. On the other hand, as she pursues her career as an independent manga artist, she is told she has not had enough worldly experience to properly portray scenes in her art.

Although this movie does center around the challenges Yuma faces in trying to experience the world to create relatable art while also attempting to be free of her caring but restricting mother, it does not only focus on Yuma’s cerebral palsy. What I find fascinating is that although most movies discussing mental illness specifically target a character’s struggle to conquer their illness, 37 Seconds is a rare exception in which the main character, although her illness is an important part of her identity, is demonstrated as much more than her cerebral palsy. 

In addition to the wonderful character development, the acting in this film is phenomenal. Portraying Yuma is amateur actress Mei Kayama. Although it may be argued that a professional actress could play the main role, Kayama does a breath-taking job in portraying the real obstacles Yuma faces in achieving her goals, so much so that at times this movie feels more like a docudrama than a scripted work of fiction. 

Alongside Kayama are Misuzu Kanno who plays the overly caring mother of Yuma, Kyoko Takada, alongside Shunsuke Daitō, Makiko Watanabe, Minori Hagiwara, Yuka Itaya, Shizuka Ishibashi, Kiyohiko Shibukawa, and Shôhei Uno. All the actors and actresses do a tremendous job in supporting the plot and properly portraying the script and Yuma’s story.

37 Seconds is the beautifully crafted story of a Japanese woman with cerebral palsy trying to achieve her quite normal goals, as well as receive opportunities equal to those given to other artists in her field. Yuma is not just a character with a mental illness struggling to escape prejudice, but a young woman trying to attain her dreams.

Overall, with a combination of a heartwarming plot, excellent actors, and an overall beautiful film experience that celebrates the miracle of life, I give 37 Seconds a 10/10.