“Naked Mura” will keep you hooked even after you finish watching [Enoki Doichiro’s movie Akasatana Vol.13]

As someone who became a fan of director Yukio Iohatagashira through `` Haribote '' (2020), this is a long-awaited new release. On a weekday afternoon when I had some free time, I dashed to Pole Pole Higashi-Nakano. Perhaps because of the popularity of `` Haribote '', this time's ``Naked Mura'' (22) has been favorably covered in various media, and every time I see it, I think, ``Oh, I should go see it as soon as possible.'' I was nervous. I was especially drawn to it after I heard Director Iohyaku Hatashira appear on TBS Radio's ``Ashita no College'' (Friday, Takeda Satetsu's episode). On the radio, you can hear "words" more than on TV. I was already feeling rushed as I stared at the schedule on my smartphone.

Then, I started watching it and suddenly I was like, wow, this is what happened! Met. `` Haribote '' was a political comedy (?) that carefully investigated the Toyama City Council's issue of political activity expenses and fraudulent receipt of benefits, and exposed ``the ridiculousness of people acting arrogantly in a closed society.'' In terms of trains, ``Naked Mura'' is called double track or double track, but it does not have one track. Three interview subjects are being pursued. ``Summary of the change of governor of Ishikawa Prefecture'' ``The Vanlifer family (nomad workers living in their car) who came to Ishikawa Prefecture due to the coronavirus'' ``A Muslim family who built a mosque in Ishikawa Prefecture''. Each of them is very interesting, but I have no idea how they are related.

Among these, the part that deals with ``former Governor Masanori Tanimoto, who ruled the prefectural government for over 27 years for seven terms, and the new governor Hashiro, who replaced him (Yoshiro Mori, the shadow of the former prime minister who appears and disappears)'' is a closed-minded politics. The depiction of the climate is reminiscent of `` Haribote .'' I'm sure many of the audience, including myself, expected the movie to follow this train (?). Mr. Isohata left Tulip Television in Toyama, where he had worked for many years, and joined Ishikawa Television mid-career. You'd think the government would make a dent in Ishikawa, a windless conservative kingdom (where long-term prefectural government has become the norm, and there have been only four publicly elected governors since the war).

Or rather, it's cutting into me. I don't want to say something like, ``I thought I was going to cut into it, but I was lax.'' The political drama part alone is overwhelmingly entertaining. Former Governor Tanimoto's behavior is disgusting, and new Governor Hase's one-phrase speech (?) seems like a one-shot gag. A woman appears on the podium only when taking a photo to receive a bouquet of flowers while promoting the empowerment of women, and then immediately takes the podium down. A female prefectural employee bends over in the assembly hall and carefully wipes the area around the water jug, looking like a "servant." is shown.

The way it is drawn is very calm. In particular, his tone was not one of pointing out, "This is the problem!" Although it is indifferent, it reflects the suffocating masculine principle and peer pressure.

“Naked Mura” (C) Ishikawa Television Broadcasting

After the airing of ``Nihon Koku Otokomura'', which can be said to be a sister version of ``Naked Mura'' (I haven't seen it, it is said that it is a version of ``Naked Mura'' with the van lifer part removed), I said, ``I knew that, but so far. (According to the movie pamphlet and director's note by director Ioyo Hagashira), some people said, ``This is terrible!'' ``I've never seen the governor or members of the Diet portrayed in such a comical way on a program in Ishikawa Prefecture.'' Well, I guess that's surprisingly true. I believe Mr. Gohyakuto was simply pointing his camera at something that had been overlooked up until now (such as the female employee wiping the water pitcher).

However, as I mentioned at the beginning, this film does not have a linear structure. It's not a movie that aims to ``portray the governor or legislators in a humorous way.'' By incorporating the ``Van Lifer'' and ``Muslim Family'' parts, which are both distinct from the Ishikawa Prefecture climate, the story becomes very complex.

Vanlifers are bringing a new lifestyle from America to Ishikawa Prefecture. The VanLifers family, who moved to Ishikawa and works remotely in public relations for several companies, is initially frightened by the community's ``self-restraint police.'' I'm having trouble figuring out where to park a van with a license plate somewhere else. Vanlifers, who are supposed to have the freedom of movement, have their freedom restricted due to the coronavirus pandemic. Then, the family's frustration grows in the small living space. Even in this new lifestyle, patriarchal oppression remains alive and well, creating a nested structure, like a village within a village, or a small community within a community.

The "Muslim family" is based on Islam. It is a heterogeneous community in the area, and there were concerns at first that the mosque might be making bombs. There is a process of coming to terms with this and gaining understanding, but even if the children come to terms with it and gain understanding, it seems that the children are still exposed to untold discrimination and prejudice. He tries to ask questions, but he gets away with it. Some experts see this as an expression of Mr. Gohyaku's own masculine principles and power.)

The three different interview subjects each reflect Japan's sense of confinement in their own ways. I thought about the plot of the photograph. When I was getting into photography, I discovered that framing was interesting. When the subject of photography fills the entire frame, the amount of information is organized and transmitted in a straightforward manner. However, if you make the frame larger, unnecessary objects such as the person being photographed or buildings will be reflected. Information is mixed with noise. The result is a photo that doesn't clearly convey what it wants to say. I was fascinated by this ``photo with a strangely large frame.'' I was particular about taking photos that included not only the person, but also the signboard and telephone pole in the background. In the case of a ramen shop, the person in the middle was licked to insert the menu and price tags on the wall. It's more interesting to have unintended information in the image when it's developed. ``Nude Mura'' reminded me of that. Since it is not linear, the amount of information increases (wastefully?). That's interesting. It keeps me hooked even after I've finished watching it.

I thought that was a challenge for Coach Iohato. While looking at the pamphlet, I'm still ruminating and thinking about the parts that stuck with me. If it were a political satire in the "Here's the problem!" style, I might have finished watching it, felt refreshed, and forgotten about it.

Text: Ichiro Enoki

Born in 1959. Born in Akita Prefecture. Debuted in a commercial magazine with ``Takarajima'' in 1980 while studying at Chuo University. Since then, he has serialized columns and essays in various magazines, and continues to this day. Also active on radio and television. Twitter @ichiroenokido 

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(C) Ishikawa Television Broadcasting