Veteran Japanese filmmaker Shunji Iwai finds greatness in music

By Viola Ke

The new musical “Kyrie” that renowned Japanese filmmaker Shunji Iwai has brought to Shanghai International Film Festival is a thought-provoking film reflecting social conflicts against the backdrop of the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011.

Presented by Iwai at the SIFF Master Class event on June 21, it's the third musical he has made since “Swallowtail Butterfly” (1996), his breakout movie, and “All About Lily Chou-Chou” (2001).

“When making this film, I suddenly realized that all three films reflect social issues, with a broader and deeper scope than my other works,” the veteran Iwai noted. 

He said “Swallowtail Butterfly” dealt with the issue of illegal migration in Japan and its impact on society, while “All About Lily Chou-Chou” also revealed bullying problems.

Iwai explained that his other genre films might be more akin to daily life, reflecting common activity and the human heart, and were closer to individuality. But when making musicals, he said it seemed that he tended to focus on social issues and the struggles of people.

"Japan has J-pop, popular singers and musicians who create songs that are often happy and upbeat,” he said. 

“But when reviewing their discography, I found that more than eighty percent of the songs also reflect social issues, worries, difficulties, sadness, and unbearable pain, which they write into lyrics and compose into music that resonates with people."

During the masterclass talk, he highlighted the significance of music for people and thought it could accompany each person, causing them to resonate with it. 

"Sometimes it forms a connection, bringing tears to the eyes, and that's the power of music. When we want to turn this into a film, we just mix the theme, melody and lyrics to create a story that naturally unfolds," he added.

He said that while some people might think that watching “Kyrie” is a very pleasant experience, it's not actually so. 

"This time with “Kyrie,” I bring everyone into a deeper issue. Although we seem happy enjoying the music, contemporary issues will also be reflected. I have once again felt the greatness of music."