A low-key showcase for Fukada's returning collaborator Mariko Tsutsui.

There's a strong performance at the center that keeps it moving as Fukada rations out the story twists, but what's missing here is a radical restructuring of a frustrating screenplay.

Only by paying close attention to the lead character's changing hairstyle and wardrobe can we follow the story's convoluted crescendo of thwarted passion and unadulterated rage.

Fukada effectively develops a multifaceted character by transforming Ichiko from a collateral victim into an accomplice. A Girl Missing highlights the importance of knowing when to speak up and when to stay silent.