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Missing (Sagasu in Japanese), the feature directorial debut of Shinzô Katayama, who also co-writes the screenplay along with Kazuhisa Kotera and Ryô Takada, is a solid and often exciting drama. The story is full of mystery, moral ambiguity, and characters that are not always who they appear to be at first. The movie offers no easy answers when it comes to its characters and the situations they find themselves in, but Missing certainly makes for a fascinating watch. With its twists and turns, compelling themes, and depth, Missing is a solid first film for Shinzô Katayama. Missing begins with Kaede Harada (Aoi Itô), a teenager who is called to pick up her father, Santoshi, after he is caught shoplifting. Santoshi has been on a downward spiral for a while now. After the death of his wife, he has been in mourning, his business has collapsed and he is deeply in debt. Kaede has become, in many ways, the caretaker, though she berates her father for her behavior. Santoshi, however, suggests th...