Indie director WATANABE Hirobumi has created his own cinematic universe with his laconic comedies. In LIM Kah Wai’s playful road movie, he stars as himself, first making a film and then travelling from Okinawa to Hokkaido, trying to sell his films to arthouse cinemas across the country. A loving, yet self-mocking ode to Japan’s cinema culture, which also gives a fascinating insight into its independent side and an urgent plea for support. For more WATANABE at this year’s festival, check out the romantic slasher Love Will Tear Us Apart, which he wrote.
In zijn laconieke komedies heeft onafhankelijk regisseur WATANABE Hirobumi zijn eigen filmwereld gecreëerd. In LIM Kah Wai’s speelse roadmovie speelt hij zichzelf. Eerst terwijl hij een film maakt en daarna terwijl hij van Okinawa naar Hokkaido door het land reist, proberend zijn films te verkopen aan filmhuizen. Een liefdevolle ode aan de Japanse filmcultuur vol zelfspot, die ook fascinerend inzicht geeft in de onafhankelijke kant van de filmindustrie en met urgentie tot steun oproept. Voor meer WATANABE op dit festival, bekijk de door hem geschreven romantische slasher Love Will Tear Us Apart.
LIM Kah Wai リム カーワイ was born in Kuala Lumpur. He studied electrical engineering in Osaka and film directing in Beijing. In 2010 he directed his first film, After All These Years. His subsequent films have been screened and won awards at many international film festivals. He is considered a pan-Asian filmmaker who shoots his films in different countries with different language casts, including China and Europe.
2022 – Your Lovely Smile あなたの微笑み
2021 – Come and Go カム・アンド・ゴー
2019 – Somewhen Somewhere
2018 – No Where, Now Here
2016 – Love in Late Autumn
2013 – Fly Me to Minami
2011 – New World 新世界の夜明け
2011 – Magic and Loss マジック＆ロス
2010 – After All These Years