In 1971, author and also movie scholar Donald Richie released a poetic travelogue about his explorations of the islands of Japan's Inland Sea, taping his search for traces of a traditional way of living in addition to his very own journey of self-discovery. Twenty years later, filmmaker Lucille Carra undertook a parallel trip inspired by Richie's by-then-classic publication, capturing pictures of hushed beauty and conference individuals who still continued the fading custom-mades that Richie had actually observed. Intermixed with shocking detours-- a check out to a Frank Sinatra-- loving monk, a leper nest, an ersatz holy place of plywood and plaster-- as well as woven with each other by Richie's narration along with a score by celebrated author Toru Takemitsu, The Inland Sea is an eye-opening trip and a profound meditation on what it means to be an immigrant.