Information on the screening of "The Ones Left Behind: The Plight of Single Mothers in Japan" at K's Cinema in Shinjuku

The Ones Left Behind: The Plight of Single Mothers in Japan, depicts the extreme hardships that single mothers in Japan face, as well as Japan’s unknown hidden poverty. The film has won numerous awards at film festivals around the world and will be screened at K's Cinema in Shinjuku, Tokyo for one week only, from November 9 to November 15, 2024.

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Nominated for 40 international film festivals

Winner in 17 International Film Festivals

An internationally acclaimed documentary from the team of filmmaker Rionne McAvoy and producers Ayuri Oikawa, F.J. Fox, and Sean Jones, this documentary film has received much acclaim and sparked widespread discussion. 

For Japan, the world’s fourth-largest economy, child poverty has been an issue for decades with one of the highest child poverty rates in the developed world. This documentary is an unflinching look at an ignored social problem and the poverty trap that mothers and children slide into when a family breaks up.

Caption: "The Ones Left Behind: The Plight of Single Mothers in Japan," a documentary film to be released on November 9, is the feature-length debut of Australian filmmaker and professional wrestler Rionne McAvoy

The film attracted much attention when it was screened at the Shibuya Human Trust Cinema on September 22, 2024, with VIP guests including Taro Kono (former Digital Minister), Julia Longbottom (British Ambassador to Japan), Kristin Iglum (Norwegian Ambassador to Japan), and Yoriko Madoka (National Democratic Party of Japan) in attendance. The event also garnered international attention, including coverage by the Hollywood Reporter.

In addition, Director McAvoy is launching a new documentary production project entitled "The Ones Left Behind: When Tomorrow Never Comes," his second documentary. This film focuses on the issue of youth suicide in Japan, asking the question: What is the cause of such a high youth suicide rate in such an affluent country? The film aims to raise awareness about the pressures young people face, the need to improve and understand their social environment, and the need for improved mental health support and intervention programs.