KAGAWA Ann (KAWAI Yumi) has endured a traumatic childhood as a primary school dropout abused by her mother and forced to care for her grandmother. When she is one day interrogated on a charge of drug usage, the encounter takes a surprisingly constructive turn: detective TATARA (SATO Jiro), one of the interrogating officers, opts not to question Ann on the charges themselves, instead pleading with her to join his drug rehabilitation group.

At first, Ann is reluctant to open up to the group, but she gradually lowers her guard, even allowing TATARA to support her in finding a job, returning to school, and rebuilding her life. Soon enough, however, rumours of TATARA’s involvement in a scandal begin to circulate, and an all-too-familiar pandemic brings Ann’s fate into question.

Inspired by a true story, A Girl Named Ann is a painful, emotionally-charged film that sees director and previous JFTFP guest IRIE Yu question the idea of forcing upon individuals the responsibility for broader societal problems within inadequate support structures.