An exceptional masterpiece of a "chronicle" film, which is rare in Japan. Director Masayuki Tominaga "Dynamite Graffiti" [Director's Interview Vol.13]

Director Masayoshi Tominaga's ``Dynamite Graffiti'' is a film about the turbulent life of legendary charismatic magazine editor Akira Suei. This film is an industry memoir depicting the wildly prosperous era of culture-erotic magazine publishing, and is also a particularly rich and unique youth film.It is also attracting attention as a masterpiece of a ``chronicle'' film, which is rare in Japan. Ta.

Therefore, on the day of the DVD & Blu-ray release, we focused on the theme of this chronicle movie, and just before the release event at HMV & BOOKS SHIBUYA, we made time to talk to the director. Please enjoy this as a special bonus track that complements the charm of the main story.

Index

• Strictly separate what can be done and what cannot be done
• Adding details to the actor's sense of reality
• Martin Scorsese movies and impermanence
• Introducing an axis of historicity to minimalist everyday films

Strictly separate what can be done and what cannot be done

Q: Congratulations on the release of DVD & Blu-ray today (November 9, 2018). In addition to the making-of footage, the bonus footage also includes a music video for Pathos (a band in which Akira Suei participates as a saxophonist).

Tominaga: Yes. Shortly before the main movie was released, Pathos released a mini-album to coincide with the movie's release. It was released on March 17th, so we shot three MVs (`` Cha Cha Cha Freeloader '' , ``Couple Chicks '', and `` Don't Forget '') around the beginning of February.

Q: Looking back now, I still think that ``The Dynamite Graffiti'' is one of the best works of the year. Just today, `` Bohemian Rhapsody '' (2018 / Director: Bryan Singer), a film based on the trajectory of the British rock band Queen, was released in theaters, but it is actually set in almost the same era as ``Dynamite Graffiti''. I'm drawing it, right? It is said to be from the 1970s to the 1980s.

Tominaga: I see, that's certainly true.

Q: I think it's quite difficult to create a chronicle-style true story in today's Japanese films. I think Director Tominaga was able to achieve the maximum results in that situation.

Tominaga: I guess this time we strictly separated what we could do and what we couldn't do. For example, a car from the time the era was set cannot be prepared. Domestic cars from the 70's and 80's were truly devastating. It's difficult because automakers don't lend out regular passenger cars from each era.

The only thing that was there was a flashback part of the main character's childhood (1950s) where a three-wheeled truck was parked in the scene where the main character was shopping. That one is often used exclusively for photography. If you go back to the 1950s or earlier, they often appear in movies and TV dramas, so they are still around.

Q: What is difficult is the recent past, after highly urbanized areas. Trendy items change one after another, and the landscape changes rapidly. On the other hand, today's American movies are very popular in the 70's and 80's, and are full of true stories depicting the changes in those days. For example, in Battle of the Sexes (2017, directed by Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton), a 70s-style Pontiac is seen driving along the California coast.

Tominaga: American movies are overwhelmingly amazing. Models from that time are popping up all the time. Since we can't do that, we have no choice but to devise ways to do it. That's why I graciously gave up on obsessing over blank images and instead focused on the information and atmosphere in the room, for example. The only thing to do is to fill it in so that there are no cracks in the frame. If we ask them to do that, the art staff will do it with surprising care. I think the staff did their best to meet the expectations of a chronicle that can be seen on screen.

Adding details to the actor's sense of reality