2010.10.16
[Special Contents]
HogaHolic × JAPANESE EYES, Director's Messages are Available at TIFF's English website as well!!
Exclusive messages from the film directors of the Japanese Eyes section screenings are presented on the HogaHolic website as part of a special issue pages, Hogaholic x JAPANESE EYES. This special issue presents the Programming Director's Interview and Film Reviews on Japanese Eyes, etc (in Japanese) as well.
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TIFF would like to share these exclusive messages with all the readers of TIFF English website!!
Wandering Home Dir: Yoichi Higashi
There are no murders or grand action scenes in this film. The director simply attempts, in a contemporary and innovative style, to portray a man’s spiritual journey in search of a “place for his soul.” It is hard to make a film like this in Japan these days, but it has been made possible with the efforts of those sympathetic to the director’s intention, led by the producer Tetsujiro Yamagami, and performers Tadanobu Asano and Hiromi Nagasaku. I am proud as the director that this film is going to make a premiere at TIFF.Diretor'sProfile：Born in central Japan. Graduated from Waseda University and joined Iwanami Productions. His first feature was Okinawa Islands (1969). The River with No Bridge (1992) won best director at the Mainichi Film Awards. Village of Dreams (1996) won a Berlin film festival Silver Bear. My Grandpa (2003) won best Asian film at the Montreal film festival. This is his first film since Crying Wind (2004).
Wandering Home Film InformationA Liar and a Broken Girl Dir: Natsuki Seta
The film has just been completed in September, based on a teen novel, “Usotsuki Mi-kun to Kowareta Ma-chan.” I think this film allows each viewer to take his/her perspective. It is hard to summarize the story without revealing the plotline, and describing the characters racks my brain. It is difficult to express in words, but I brought all the delicate and vague pieces together, such as the heavy and the light, dark and bright, hope and regret, to create the best couple ever. Despite them being a liar and a disturbed girl, I adore Mi-kun and Ma-chan, and I hope this is reflected in the film. Make sure not to miss the last scene.Diretor'sProfile：Born in Osaka, Seta graduated from the Graduate School of Film and New Media, Tokyo University of the Arts in 2008. Her directorial work includes Letter from Over There and Spilt Milk. Highly acclaimed in her picturesque style, Seta is one of the most promising up-coming directors in Japan. This film will be her debut in commercial films.
A Liar and a Broken Girl Film Informationhospitalité Dir: Koji Fukada
hospitalité. What triggered me to make this awkward film? Well, there is no reason for making films. When you get an idea, you just have to shoot it. It would sound cool, just like the comment by the mountaineer saying “I climb the mountain because it is there,” but that would be too bluntly to move on. As I force myself to recall, I come back to three kinds of discomfort which encouraged me to make this film a year ago.One of the discomforts was about the exclusionism towards unknown people. Another was about the current tendency in Japanese films to fill the screen with movie-like hedonistic fun and action scenes. The last was my exclusive and intolerant mind, not being able to make a good film after all these time I have spent doing it.
It would be my pleasure if this film creates “sense of discomfort” in the viewers’ minds and prompts them to feel “something.”
Diretor'sProfile：Born in 1980, Tokyo. His first film The Chair was released in Tokyo in 2004. He joined Theatre Company Seinendan, which is led by Oriza Hirata in 2005. He wrote and directed animation film La Grenadière (2006) and got Soleil d'Or (Premiers films) Award in the 3rd KINOTAYO Film Festival. He shot feature film Human Comedy in Tokyo which was screened at Rome International Film Festival in 2009.
hospitalité Film InformationBirthright Dir: Naoki Hashimoto
A film that should be watched in a cinema.A film that you would watch with a sense of tension.
A film that you cannot afford to be distracted by popcorn and coke.
―How can I make such a film?
A film that you won’t forget the moment it finishes.
A film that will leave a lasting impression on the viewer’s mind.
A film that 8 out of 10 people will reject, but the remaining 2 will embrace completely.
A film that does not conclude in Japan alone. A film that will be watched by people around the world.
Shouldn’t we be making films like this so as not to let the culture of films fade away in Japan?
That is why I made this Birthright.
I strongly hope that this nomination to the Japanese Eyes section will pave the way to screenings at film festivals around the world.
Diretor'sProfile：Hashimoto started his career in 1989. In 1992 he established Wilco Co., Ltd. As a producer of Tony Takitani (2004) he won Special Jury Prize, the International Federation of Film Critics Award, and Junior Jury Award at the 57th Locarno International Film Festival. He directed short films, Catch ball (2005) and Kimi to aruita michi－You Are the One－ (2005). Birthright is his first feature film.
Birthright Film InformationSuccessional Tradition on Noh Dir: Chiseko Tanaka
About Successional Tradition of NohNoh is considered to be a symbol of Japanese culture. Noh was chosen first and foremost as an Intangible Cultural Heritage. Noh has a 700-year long tradition. I felt a reckless desire to show the brilliance of Noh in a film when I directed Nohgakushi eight years ago. Noh may have been perplexed by my attempt. I realized that it is no mean feat to capture the essence of Noh in a film. That is why I attempted this time to humbly stand by Noh, in a direct manner, and Noh generously revealed its mystery to the camera. It was in spring of 2009 when I started, together with the cinematographer Koichi Kawakami, to film the tradition of Noh culture featuring Yoshito Sekine, a Noh performer of the Kanze school. I had expected Noh to be passed down from a father to a child, and to a grandchild, however, when I saw the recording of Yoshito Sekine’s rehearsal and performance I instinctively felt that the existence of Sekine was in itself the succession. I am even more enthralled by Noh.
Diretor'sProfile：Born in Yamanashi prefecture. She studied Japanese literature at the Ochanomizu University undergraduate and graduate schools, then became a freelance film critic while working as a Japanese teacher at a high school. In 2001 she produced and directed her first film, Rokurobyoe, followed by Noh-Gakushi (2002), Miyabi: Yukio Mishima (2005) and Narushima Friend Orecchi Jitenshado (2009) before producing and directing her first feature film, Romansha Tachi (2009).
Successional Tradition on Noh Film InformationFIT Dir: Hiromasa Hirosue
Because of the performers, staff and friends who believed in me, it has been possible to spend time to complete this film. More than anything I am really happy that FIT is given the opportunity to be seen by the audience.Emotions are formed when you interact with others, which then FIT within yourself.
The irresistible urge to think about a particular person in a one-sided way.
And it is born again.
Hello, nice to see you, I am Hiromasa Hirosue of Gunjo-iro.
Diretor'sProfile：Born in Kochi prefecture. He formed a production unit, Gunjo-iro, in 2001 with Izumi Takahashi. At the PFF Award in 2004, Takahashi's The Soup, One Morning won the Grand Prize, and Hirosue's Sayonara Sayo-nara won the Runner-up Prize. He directed Asagaya Bellboys (2004), The Lost Hum (2005), 16th PFF Scholarship film Fourteen (2006) and Higurashi (2008). He is a leading actor in Gunjo-iro films, as well as in Michitoshi Nanbu's Passion this year. He is scheduled to appear in Takahashi's work.
FIT Film Information442 -LIVE WITH HONOR, DIE WITH DIGNITY- Dir: Junichi Suzuki
Power of filmsWhen I was a child, Japanese films were the king of entertainment, however nowadays, it has become just one of the media, but I still believe in the great power of films.
442 – Live with Honor, Die with Dignity, the film I made this time, is a documentary about the past and present of the Japanese-American soldiers who, unknown to most Japanese people, fought on the European battlefront during WWII.
It has been ten years since I moved to the U.S., I have become painfully aware how little attention is given to the Japanese emigrants and those of Japanese descendants. I myself heard about the 442 but hardly knew about the reality.
The Japanese education system does not accurately teach modern history from WWII onwards and I often hear younger Japanese do not even know that Japan fought against the U.S.
I am confident that this film will prompt many issues amongst Japanese. The Japanese-American soldiers’ beautiful way of life, with the sense of shame, sympathy for other people and virtue of not being self-centered, will genuinely touch viewers’ hearts. I decided to make this film, believing that it will prompt people in Japan to reflect upon themselves, learn a lot from it and be touched by it.
Every viewer would feel a positive message from the current lives of the soldiers who lost many of their brothers in arms while managing to escape death themselves.
I believe this film will help some viewers to discover the greatness of being alive and to feel as if the fog has been lifted.
Diretor'sProfile：After graduating Tokyo University, he joined Nikkatsu as an assistant director. Fujinka Byoto Yasashikumonde (Nikkatsu) was his directorial debut in 1981.He has directed 24 feature films so far, including the hit movie Shiro and Marylin(Shochikufuji), Asiaoseania Film Festival winner Sand Castle (ATG), Idellywild International Film Festival of Cinema winner Remembering the Cosmos Flower (Ace Pictures). He moved to LA 2001.
442 -LIVE WITH HONOR, DIE WITH DIGNITY- Film InformationYour Home Dir: Kohei Yamakawa
Because this was the first film I have made, I wanted it to be about having to live in a harmony with your neighbors. It deals with issues such as elderly care and poverty. I did not intend to talk about these as current affairs, but I wanted to share my concern, in facing the future when these issues will become more common. It may be my presumption but I felt it was worth making this film, while knowing that I am in no position to have a say, if viewers can sympathize, beyond general criticism for the youth, that those in the same generation (and also including the teens) are somehow prepared. I learned a lot at Pia Film Festival which had a lot of distinctive films with superb techniques. I am deeply grateful to have this opportunity to screen the film in this excellent environment. I would be most pleased if this film starts off a conversation at someone’s “home.”Diretor'sProfile：Born in Niigata prefecture. He spent four years at Japan Ground Self-Defense Force after high school. Currently at Osaka University of Arts studying films. He has made promotional and corporate videos as well as working part-time as camera and production assistant for TV adverts. This is his directorial debut.
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