The art of living a day at a time
By NORMAN ENGLAND
At this year's Tokyo International Film Festival, the prize for best artistic contribution went to the Japanese movie "Shikijitsu (Ritual)." (The award was also presented to Babak Payami for his film, "One More Day.")
"Shikijitsu" is based on the novella of its star, Ayako Fujitani. "The story came out of my state of mind when I was living in L.A.," said the 20-year-old actress after the awards ceremony. "With it, I attempted to make sense of my relationship with the world and how I saw myself in connection to it."
Spanning a one-month period, Fujitani's highly personal tale revolves around a lonely movie director (played by real-life director Shunji Iwai) and an equally lonely, yet utterly eccentric young woman (Fujitani).
Gradually winning her confidence, the director is invited into her home: a deserted building she has converted into an unreal world of her own design. She has converted each floor to suit her different moods and needs. Eventually, the two form a bond, but as they test the waters of their fledging relationship, both reveal symptoms of social maladjustment.
The offbeat film conveys its story through bleak settings and the emotional isolation of its two main characters. While neither concrete nor abstract, "Shikijitsu" differs from other Japanese art films in that it seeks specifics rather than the inevitable acceptance of intangibles.
"The movie is about relationships and the difficulties that arise when they step into the more complex arena of family," Fujitani explained. "I think the movie searches for and concludes with answers, but what they are will mean something different to everyone who sees it."
Hideaki Anno, the film's 40-year-old director, came to prominence in 1995 with his groundbreaking animation series, "Evangelion." His first live action feature, "Love and Pop" (1998), is noted for being the first feature in Japan shot entirely on digital video.
The filming of "Shikijitsu" took place over a one-month period last April in Anno's hometown of Ube, an industrial city in Yamaguchi Prefecture.
"The location was completely bizarre," Fujitani said. "The area was nothing but desolate warehouses, factories and tall, smoky chimneys. It felt like a foreign country and fit the mood of the film perfectly."
The movie's title refers to the character's daily routine of announcing "Today is my birthday" and her habitual morning ceremony of hanging from her building's roof, debating whether this is the day she will throw herself off or not.
"She doesn't feel that she's alive," Fujitani offered as explanation for the character's quirky behavior. "She feels unneeded and does these things to remind herself that she is alive. People get this way when they are very lonely. She has placed herself into an isolated life, which is the hardest thing anyone can do. Most people, even if they are scared of being hurt, are more afraid of being alone."
Fujitani got her start in acting at 15 when she was chosen by director Shusuke Kaneko to play the pivotal role of a teenage girl psychically linked to a giant monster "Gamera: Guardian of the Universe."
"I met Kaneko at a film festival in Osaka," Fujitani recalled. "Two weeks later I received a phone call from the studio asking me to try out for 'Gamera.' I had never done any acting before and was so nervous at the audition that I completely choked up. I went home thinking 'that's that.'
She received a call a week later and was told she had the part.
Fujitani stayed with the series until its completion in 1999 with "Gamera 3: The Revenge of Irys." It was during the production of the film that Fujitani met Anno.
"Anno did a documentary on the making of G3 and after the shooting was finished I bumped into him again. I mentioned I was writing a story and he expressed interest in it. When it was done, I gave him a copy. Anno read it and asked if he could film it."
Born in Osaka to Japanese and American parents, things were complicated for Fujitani by her father being action-movie star Steven Seagal.
"I was 4 when my parents separated," Fujitani revealed. "Not only was I of mixed blood, but I was from a broken home and so was teased relentlessly at school. Then, when I was 10, my father became famous and suddenly everyone wanted to be my friend. It was a little rough. I recently spent time in America studying acting, doing writing and coming to grips with my life in Japan.
"While still not totally at home here, I now feel it's more important who I surround myself with rather than simply trying to fit into Japan or America."
Fujitani believes the award "Shikijitsu" received will encourage a positive change in the way Japanese filmmakers share ideas when making movies.
"It's so difficult to create something independently here. No one wants it, not the companies or the public. What is wanted is for you to do what you're told and give little resistance," she said, noting the lack of dialogue between actors, directors and producers. Anno, however, is different.
"When he was writing the script he called every night to tell me what he had done that day. We would then talk until the sun rose. Anno is regarded as a trendsetter in Japan and many people are looking closely at the approach he took on this film. I've been told that Japanese movies will change because of "Shikijitsu." I can only hope so."
"Shikijitsu" is playing at at the Tokyo-to Shashin Bijutsukan, (03) 3280-0031, at Yebisu Garden Place in Meguro Ward and will be shown once a week with English subtitles.
The Japan Times: Dec. 9, 2000
******************
in oneness
By NORMAN ENGLAND
At this year's Tokyo International Film Festival, the prize for best artistic contribution went to the Japanese movie "Shikijitsu (Ritual)." (The award was also presented to Babak Payami for his film, "One More Day.")
"Shikijitsu" is based on the novella of its star, Ayako Fujitani. "The story came out of my state of mind when I was living in L.A.," said the 20-year-old actress after the awards ceremony. "With it, I attempted to make sense of my relationship with the world and how I saw myself in connection to it."
Spanning a one-month period, Fujitani's highly personal tale revolves around a lonely movie director (played by real-life director Shunji Iwai) and an equally lonely, yet utterly eccentric young woman (Fujitani).
Gradually winning her confidence, the director is invited into her home: a deserted building she has converted into an unreal world of her own design. She has converted each floor to suit her different moods and needs. Eventually, the two form a bond, but as they test the waters of their fledging relationship, both reveal symptoms of social maladjustment.
The offbeat film conveys its story through bleak settings and the emotional isolation of its two main characters. While neither concrete nor abstract, "Shikijitsu" differs from other Japanese art films in that it seeks specifics rather than the inevitable acceptance of intangibles.
"The movie is about relationships and the difficulties that arise when they step into the more complex arena of family," Fujitani explained. "I think the movie searches for and concludes with answers, but what they are will mean something different to everyone who sees it."
Hideaki Anno, the film's 40-year-old director, came to prominence in 1995 with his groundbreaking animation series, "Evangelion." His first live action feature, "Love and Pop" (1998), is noted for being the first feature in Japan shot entirely on digital video.
The filming of "Shikijitsu" took place over a one-month period last April in Anno's hometown of Ube, an industrial city in Yamaguchi Prefecture.
"The location was completely bizarre," Fujitani said. "The area was nothing but desolate warehouses, factories and tall, smoky chimneys. It felt like a foreign country and fit the mood of the film perfectly."
The movie's title refers to the character's daily routine of announcing "Today is my birthday" and her habitual morning ceremony of hanging from her building's roof, debating whether this is the day she will throw herself off or not.
"She doesn't feel that she's alive," Fujitani offered as explanation for the character's quirky behavior. "She feels unneeded and does these things to remind herself that she is alive. People get this way when they are very lonely. She has placed herself into an isolated life, which is the hardest thing anyone can do. Most people, even if they are scared of being hurt, are more afraid of being alone."
Fujitani got her start in acting at 15 when she was chosen by director Shusuke Kaneko to play the pivotal role of a teenage girl psychically linked to a giant monster "Gamera: Guardian of the Universe."
"I met Kaneko at a film festival in Osaka," Fujitani recalled. "Two weeks later I received a phone call from the studio asking me to try out for 'Gamera.' I had never done any acting before and was so nervous at the audition that I completely choked up. I went home thinking 'that's that.'
She received a call a week later and was told she had the part.
Fujitani stayed with the series until its completion in 1999 with "Gamera 3: The Revenge of Irys." It was during the production of the film that Fujitani met Anno.
"Anno did a documentary on the making of G3 and after the shooting was finished I bumped into him again. I mentioned I was writing a story and he expressed interest in it. When it was done, I gave him a copy. Anno read it and asked if he could film it."
Born in Osaka to Japanese and American parents, things were complicated for Fujitani by her father being action-movie star Steven Seagal.
"I was 4 when my parents separated," Fujitani revealed. "Not only was I of mixed blood, but I was from a broken home and so was teased relentlessly at school. Then, when I was 10, my father became famous and suddenly everyone wanted to be my friend. It was a little rough. I recently spent time in America studying acting, doing writing and coming to grips with my life in Japan.
"While still not totally at home here, I now feel it's more important who I surround myself with rather than simply trying to fit into Japan or America."
Fujitani believes the award "Shikijitsu" received will encourage a positive change in the way Japanese filmmakers share ideas when making movies.
"It's so difficult to create something independently here. No one wants it, not the companies or the public. What is wanted is for you to do what you're told and give little resistance," she said, noting the lack of dialogue between actors, directors and producers. Anno, however, is different.
"When he was writing the script he called every night to tell me what he had done that day. We would then talk until the sun rose. Anno is regarded as a trendsetter in Japan and many people are looking closely at the approach he took on this film. I've been told that Japanese movies will change because of "Shikijitsu." I can only hope so."
"Shikijitsu" is playing at at the Tokyo-to Shashin Bijutsukan, (03) 3280-0031, at Yebisu Garden Place in Meguro Ward and will be shown once a week with English subtitles.
The Japan Times: Dec. 9, 2000
******************
in oneness
