SIFF SCREENING | The Japanese Film Festival Launched with Its First Meet-and-Greet: The Highlights Are...

On December 20th, the Japanese Film Festival, guided by Shanghai Film Bureau and specially organized by Shanghai International Film Festival, officially opened at Grand Theatre. Director Daihachi Yoshida attended the event with his new film TEKI COMETH to participate in the opening ceremony and a themed discussion after the screening. The discussion, themed “Everyday Reversals: The Cinematic World of Daihachi Yoshida”, was hosted by Xu Haochen. During the Q&A session with the audience, the director sincerely shared the stories behind his work and his thoughts in creation. The atmosphere was filled with emotion and warmth as over a thousand attendees gathered, resonating with creativity. Today, we will revisit the highlights of this wonderful event.

Pan Min, Deputy Head of the Publicity Department of Shanghai Municipal Committee of CPC and Director of Shanghai Film Bureau, attended the event and announced its opening.

As the first post-screening gathering of the SIFF SCREENING series, this event marks Daihachi Yoshida’s second face-to-face interaction with fans in Shanghai, following the screening of A BEAUTIFUL STAR during the 2017 Japanese Film Festival. After returning to Japan that year, Yoshida began self-studying Chinese. This time, he made an effort to greet the audience in Chinese, expressing his gratitude with enthusiasm.

From Advertising to Film: A Unique Creation Experience

At the beginning of his filmmaking career, driven by a strong desire to present his vision, Yoshida completed his first feature film, FUNUKE: SHOW SOME LOVE, YOU LOSERS!, which was nominated for the Critics’ Week at the Cannes Film Festival. At that time, Yoshida had already spent years working in the Japanese advertising industry, and his experience in filmmaking allowed him to gain a different kind of feeling - unlike behind-the-scenes work in advertising, directing a film involves a sense of accountability for presenting the work to the audience. This feeling continues to influence his creation process.

From Literature to Filming: To Respect the Core of the Work

The original of Yoshida’s acclaimed new film TEKI COMETH was described by its author as “the most difficult work to adapt for film”. The director emphasized that he maintains good communication with the original author during every adaptation process. Previously, the film KIRISHIMA, Bukatsu Yamerutteyo, adapted from its novel, was both a critical and commercial success.

Before creating KIRISHIMA, Bukatsu Yamerutteyo, Yoshida initially lacked confidence in tackling youth themes. However, after repeatedly reading the original work, he was inspired by a specific scene, which served as the starting point for his exploration, eventually fostering a sense of belief. Most of Yoshida’s films are adaptations of novels, and he has remained steadfast in his commitment - “to resonate and connect with the original authors” - over the years.

From Creation to Life: Use Imagination to Reverse the Everyday Life

For Yoshida, the greatest pleasure as a filmmaker lies in the moments of interaction with the audience after presenting his work. Perhaps it is for this reason that he repeatedly encourages viewers not to be influenced by his creation concepts and to interpret the film in their own way.

When discussing the stylistic choices of TEKI COMETH, he explained the reasoning behind the film’s use of black-and-white tones, addressing questions such as “Who is the enemy?” and “What are the creative intricacies of the cooking scenes?” He mentioned that during his research on traditional Japanese homes, he consulted a wealth of black-and-white imagery, which naturally led him to conceive the project as a black-and-white film. Fortunately, the producer granted him considerable freedom, and he managed to experience the stimulating effect of the monochromatic palette on imagination during filming and its positive impact on the film.

While audiences watched the film, he hoped to provide them with ample space for imagination. Facing life’s ultimate challenges, he quoted a key line from the film: “The enemy does not approach slowly; the enemy may strike suddenly.” He urged viewers not to get caught up in entanglements; rather, the enemy’s destruction of the protagonist ultimately leads to his rebirth. “It is precisely this painful enlightenment that enriches his later years,” the director concluded.

Director Daihachi Yoshida (left), producer Yuji Ozawa (center), and special host Xu Haochen (right) taking a group photo with the audience

Yoshida also visited Hangzhou and Ningbo, engaging warmly with audiences and discussing narrative and character development. When asked by an audience member, “Which is the dream, and which is reality?” Yoshida reiterated that, despite having a clear plan during filming, the editing process involved adjustments to the sequence, inviting everyone to interpret the film based on their understanding.

Yoshida engaging warmly with audiences in Hangzhou and Ningbo

Schedule

Tickets for the 2024 Japanese Film Festival are now on sale, with the Shanghai stop taking place from December 27 to 29 at the Grand Theatre and Shanghai Film Art Center (SHO). There are still some tickets available, but certain films are nearly sold out. Interested viewers are encouraged to purchase tickets in the soonest manner to avoid missing out.

SIFF SCREENING

“SIFF SCREENING”, a brand created by SIFF, extends the festival’s mission to satisfy the artistic needs of audiences, offering a richer and more diverse cinematic experience that fosters a more engaging viewing atmosphere.