"Backlight" Director Ren Sudo A world that is too divided and its sense of crisis [Director's Interview Vol.127]

Doubt what is fixed

Q: It's almost the last question. We are currently taking on the challenge of a new type of distribution promotion, from regional areas to Tokyo. Please tell us about the response so far.

Sudo: Japan's current distribution system is, in a sense, the most efficient and the most passive. That's one thing, but being passive is the same as being forced to do something, so if you keep doing that, the energy of the people involved will gradually decline. Having a fixed way of looking at things can be very dangerous. Therefore, questioning fixed things allows us to see the world more broadly and affirm our own existence. I personally feel this strongly from my experience with the distribution and promotion of `` Wonderwall ''.

In addition, the most obvious slogan for questioning current common sense and creating a shift in perspective was ``From rural areas to Tokyo.'' This word means to develop distribution from a free point of view, but on the other hand, I think that using this word itself has the advantage of being able to explain things in an easy-to-understand manner from a business perspective. Masu.

And now, I'm really feeling the fun and challenge of it. For example, the owner of a coffee shop in Hiroshima liked the movie and made ``Backlight'' as part of his blended coffee menu. When you drink this, it tastes delicious, and maybe it's just my imagination, but it also expresses the clean taste that the movie itself has, and it gives me a sense of sunshine (lol). Everyone in Hiroshima who is involved in this activity seems to be having a lot of fun. Hiroshima's theater income may not be large, but the power this activity has and the memories it leaves behind are certainly large. It made me realize that I have so much potential.

Anyway, what comes out of this activity is a series of unexpected things, and it's as interesting as making a movie. In a sense, that degree of freedom may be even greater than that of movies. In terms of the filmmaking stage, the 0th step is the script, the 1st step is film preparation, the 2nd step is the filming location, and the 3rd step is distribution, so I feel like I'm still creating.

Director: Ren Sudo

Born July 22, 1996 in Tokyo. Appeared as one of the main cast members of the Kyoto regional drama "Wonder Wall". Appeared as Tadamasa Fukiura in the NHK TV drama series ``Natsuzora'' and the NHK taiga drama ``Idaten.'' This is his first time as a director.

Interview and text: Fumio Koda

Editorial staff and writer for CINEMORE. My favorite movies are ``The Goonies'' and ``Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.'' My recent favorites are 4K digitally remastered classics by Akira Kurosawa and Yasujiro Ozu.

Photography: Kazunari Aoki

"Backlight"

Advance release on July 17, 2021 (Saturday) in Onomichi, sequential release nationwide

Production/Distribution: FOL Production Cooperation: Ride Pictures Distribution Cooperation: Bridgehead

© 2021 “Backlight” FILM