"The Ravine of Goodbye," a Japanese film by director Tatsushi Omori, won the Special Jury Prize at the 35th Moscow International Film Festival that ended Saturday, while "The Particle," a drama by Turkish director and writer Erdem Tepegoz, won the best film prize.
"The Particle" depicts the struggles of a working-class woman in Istanbul. Turkish actress Jale Arikan, playing the lead role, was awarded the best actress prize.
"I'm so glad. Now I can go home holding my head high," Omori said as he took the award.
"(Critics) are always split on my film. I can say that what I have been doing was not wrong."
The film is a drama about a couple involved in a rape case. Yoko Maki, the female lead, told reporters she cried at the moment the award was announced.
"We were able to make the film with an extremely good team. It made me want to continue as an actress for life, as long as such a wonderful team exists in the Japanese film (industry)."
The jury was headed by Iranian filmmaker Mohsen Makhmalbaf. Members said the film showed a deep understanding of human relationships, while the direction was sophisticated.
