“Drainage” Director Masaya Takahashi x Producer Kazuya Shiraishi Until the script that was rumored in the industry sees the light of day [Director's Interview Vol.320]

There are scripts out there that are waiting to be made into movies. It is said that the script for this work ``Drought Water'' has been waiting to be made into a movie for almost 10 years. For a long time until it was made into a movie, the existence of this script had been making waves within the industry, and the rumor that ``it seems like there's an amazing script'' had even reached the ears of director Kazuya Shiraishi. By chance, director Shiraishi read the script and thought, ``This is a work that should be released into the world,'' and began working as a producer to make it into a movie.

Kazuya Shiraishi, the project's planning producer, took on the role of interviewer this time and conducted an interview with director Masaya Takahashi. Producer Shiraishi spoke to director Takahashi about how a script that never saw the light of day was made into a movie, and what the twists and turns were.

“Drought” synopsis

During a sunny summer, Shunsaku Iwakiri (Toma Ikuta), who works at the city's water bureau, and his colleague Kida (Hayato Isomura) spend day after day visiting families who are behind on their water bills and turning off their water. Ta. His relationship with his wife (Machiko Ono) and children is not going well and he spends his days feeling thirsty. As water restrictions are imposed throughout the prefecture, Iwakiri meets two young sisters, Keiko (Yamazaki Nanami) and Kumiko (Yuho), who are left alone at home. Her father has evaporated, and her mother (Mugi Kadowaki), who is raising her sisters alone, has not returned. Should water, the last lifeline for impoverished families, be cut off? Although he is conflicted, Iwakiri follows the rules and carries out the water stoppage.

Index

• I was “thirsty” myself.
• Frustration and fatigue due to lack of form
• The aftermath of the earthquake reflected in the script
• A script that has become a hot topic in the industry
• Photographing children with a focus on sequential shooting

I was “thirsty” myself.

Shiraishi: You read the original story (“ Drought Water ” by Mitsuru Kawabayashi) about 10 years ago, and then started working on the script. What did you first talk about with the scriptwriter, Shotaro Oikawa? ?

Takahashi: We both liked the original work, but we wanted to create a structure that wouldn't make you cry. That doesn't mean it's dry either. I tried to make it without making it a Naniwabushi while maintaining a good sense of distance.

Shiraishi: Is that because Director Takahashi doesn't like Omidaidaidai or Naniwa-bushi?

Takahashi: That's right. I love watching it and it makes me cry easily (lol). It's best not to end up like that when making your own. I like Naniwa-bushi style movies. That's why I don't think I'll make it myself.

“Drought” ©2022 “Drought” Production Committee

Shiraishi: It's true that Mr. Takahashi's works have a thirsty feel to them. ``Drought'' is especially noticeable.

Takahashi: Maybe. I think I'm probably just thirsty at the moment.

Shiraishi: What do you mean when you say you are “thirsty”?

Takahashi: I think I was hungry for both filmmaking and human relationships. I have always had a dry image. It's not that I'm shy, but even though I've met him a few times, he seems to be distant from me, and I've been told that there's always a wall between him and me. I guess that's how I keep my distance.

Frustration and fatigue due to lack of form