"658km, Yoko's Journey" Director Kazuyoshi Kumakiri A life that could have been for me [Director's Interview Vol.336]

We shot 7 takes, and the first one was used.

Q: I heard there were a lot of long takes. Did the filming go smoothly, including the number of takes?

Kumakiri: The scene where Yoko asks various people for a ride at a roadside station in Iwate Prefecture was shot in about 10 long takes with a handheld camera. There were some complicated steps, such as a car passing between the actor and the camera, creating distance, but the actress playing the old lady who was grabbed by Kikuchi's arm was a little hesitant, so we had to do multiple takes. I asked her to "be more serious about it!" and in the end we got a shot that gave me goosebumps.

Also, the scene where Yoko pours out her feelings in the car was shot about seven times. But in the end, we only used the first take. It's a very long line in Aomori dialect, and we suddenly started shooting, saying, "I don't really understand it even if I think about it, so let's just shoot it for now," and when we started shooting, Kikuchi-san started talking casually and gradually became emotional, which was really good. However, there was a small mistake, so we said, "Let's do it again since we've come this far," and then we got stuck in a rut, saying, "Let's do it again after all" (laughs). We did that about seven times and got a good shot, but in the end, the first take where she started talking casually turned out to be the best.

"658km, Yoko's Journey" ©2022 "658km, Yoko's Journey" Production Committee

Q: It's been more than 20 years since you became a film director. Do you feel there have been any changes in the works you work on or your position on set (the way you shoot or your own style)?

Kumakiri: In the past, I couldn't film well unless I had a drink with the actors and staff and got to know them (laughs), but now I don't do that and I just do my job quietly. That kind of preparation time before filming has become very important to me now. With the coronavirus, the filming site has become quiet and focused. This time, for me, it was a very easy site to work on.

Q: Please tell us about your favorite movies and directors that have influenced you.

Kumakiri: As I was making a road movie this time, I rewatched " Paper Moon " (1973) for the first time in a long time. I thought it would be nice to be able to do something like that, so I made it. There is a pleasure in traveling in road movies. I really like director Peter Bogdanovich, and although it is a completely different style, I also love " The Last Picture Show " (1971).

I also love Wim Wenders's " The Wanderer " (1976). I think " Paris, Texas " (1986) was influenced by the cinematography. I wanted to make Odagiri's red hat look like Harry Dean Stanton's (laughs). I told Odagiri that.

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Director: Kazuyoshi Kumakiri

Born in 1974. From Obihiro, Hokkaido. The Graduate from the Department of Film and Media, Faculty of Arts, Osaka University of Arts. The Graduate project, "Kichiku Daienkai," won the runner-up prize at the 20th Pia Film Festival. The film was selected as an invitational work for the Berlin International Film Festival and won the Grand Prix at the Taormina International Film Festival. In 2001, he made his theatrical film debut with "Sora no Ana." His representative works include "Antenna" (2003), "Seishun ☆ Kinzoku Bat" (2006), "Nonko 36 Sai (Housewife)" (2008), "Kaitan City Chronicle" (2010), "Summer's End" (2013), and "My Man" (2014). His new work "#Manhole" will be released in February 2023, and the film was officially invited to the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival Berlinale Special section.

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

"658km, Yoko's Journey"

July 28th: ​​Eurospace, Theater Shinjuku and other locations nationwide

Distribution: Culture Publishers

©2022 “658km, Proton’s Journey” Production Committee