The Parades (2024) follows a woman searching for her son after a calamity, only to realize she is in purgatory with other lost souls. The film is streaming on Netflix.
Warning: This article contains heavy spoilers
Plot summary:
Minako wakes up on the beach with debris all around her. An earthquake and tsunami have hit her home and she’s looking for her 7-year-old son Ryo.
She notices that she isn’t heard by anyone else and when she tries to touch someone, she cannot feel it.
Finally, someone drives by and acknowledges her. He takes her back to a spot where a few people are gathered together.
They explain to her that she has passed away, and she remains on Earth because of some regrets or unfinished business.
The other souls there are Akira, Shori, Michael, Kaori, and Tanaka. Minako is desperate to find Ryo and feels that the others are lazing around.
They ask her to give it time and that evening, they go out for a walk. It is the new moon, and on that night every soul goes out in search of their loved ones.
They help each other resolve their dues and move on to the afterlife. Minako decides to hang around with the group until she finds Ryo.
She was a journalist during her time in the living and she visits the station every day to see if her son’s name has turned up on the deceased list or anywhere else.
She spends the rest of her time getting to know the people she is around. Shori was a member of the Yakuza who died in a shootout 7 years ago.
Michael was a filmmaker who had quite a few tall tales to share and rarely kept quiet. Kaori used to own a bar and take care of the food for everyone.
Akira keeps records of everything that is happening in their world and wants to complete a novel about the experience.
Tanaka was a former banker who quietly watched on and took part when asked to. After a few days, they are joined by a school student named Nana.
Nana killed herself and isn’t taking her situation particularly well. She was bullied at school, and now her best friend is being bullied in her place.
Shori says that before he died, he was supposed to get married. However, he never visited her after his death because he didn’t think he could handle it.
On the anniversary of his death, he visits his grave where his father is paying his respects. He sees his fiance in the distance and follows her home.
She still holds on to her love for him and he apologizes to her for leaving her. He sees her with someone new now, someone nice who would be good for her.
He finally resolves his unfinished business and says his goodbyes to the rest before Tanaka helps him pass on.
Minako and the rest take Nana out on the next new moon and show her how they help each other find their loved ones.
Nana realizes that she might have to apologize to someone to move on. She visits her best friend who is still getting bullied and says sorry for abandoning her.
Nana doesn’t move on though and continues to spend time with the group. Michael tells Minako that Ryo is still alive and takes her to him.
He’s suffering from a fever at a school where many children survivors are housed. Minako can talk to Ryo for a moment and promises to stay with him.
Another decision she makes is to help the people who helped her before she moves on.
Minako asks Akira his story, so he takes her to his house. His father owned a ranch where cows were raised but he was always sick from a disease and couldn’t work.
In his final days, he took out his frustrations on his family and felt immense guilt about it. His father began writing his story after his death, and Akira decided to stay on until his father finished the novel.
Kaori decided that she would not pass on until she witness the birth of her daughter’s child which is soon approaching.
Michael’s last film before his death remained incomplete, and it was about his own life during the student protests of the 70s.
He wished to complete it for his high school sweetheart, Maiko, whom he abandoned all those years ago.
Ending explained:
Completing a masterpiece
After making her decision to stay behind, Minako tells Michael that she wants to help him finish his movie for Maiko.
They shoot the rest of the film with everyone doing their part and then head to the city where Maiko stays.
She got married to Michael’s best friend Sasaki and they had a family together. When they arrive, they find Sasaki’s soul welcoming them.
He says that he passed away a few years earlier from cancer. Michael finally gets to apologize to Maiko for abandoning her but doesn’t leave the film behind.
Spreading the message
Minako tells Michael that they should screen the movie at the theatre for all the other souls.
He gets his moment to show off his work and everyone deeply appreciates it. They head back to their spot and Michael says a few parting words.
He asks Nana to continue making movies using his notes. He also thanks Minako for all the help she provided and tells Akira to keep his records going.
He asks Tanaka what it is like on the other side but Tanaka says it isn’t allowed. Nana finds out that Tanaka is a marshal who helps souls pass through.
Michael passes on, and Minako passes on soon after.
Unfinished business
Nana wakes up in the hospital, which explains why she didn’t pass on after apologizing to her friend.
She turns her life around and maintains contact with Ryo, Minako’s son. Years later, Ryo visits Tokyo for a movie screening.
Nana invited him because she made the movie and named it ‘The Parades’, after Ryo described the souls walking on new moon night as a parade.
The film is inspired by her time as a lost soul, and it gives Ryo a chance to relive his mother’s story after her death.