In the Japanese countryside, in the company of a gently trickling river and wet trees, single father Takumi raises his daughter Hana. Their quiet life is shattered when a Tokyo company announces plans to build a luxury campsite nearby. As tensions rise in the village and fears grow that the water will be irreversibly contaminated, Takumi becomes one of the leaders of the resistance. Director Hamaguchi first planned to make a 30-minute silent film with a live musical score written by composer Eiko Ishibashi. However, the filming dragged on and the director finally decided to turn it into a feature film with dialogue and a strong emphasis on music.