Award-winning Japanese director screens his latest documentary at Pálás
Zero, a movie by Kazuhiro Soda. Photo: Zoé Larroque
Galway welcomed the famous Japanese filmmaker Kazuhiro Soda on 29 February on the occasion of the 8th edition of the East Asia Film Festival Ireland.
He graced his presence for a screening and a Q&A about his latest documentary “Zero”.
The movie tells the story of the last moments of the practice of the famous psychiatrist Dr Yamamoto in his clinic in Okayama before retiring to take care of his wife.
A story about Time
After a first movie released on Dr Yamamoto and his patients in 2008, Kazuhiro Soda heard about his retirement at 88 years old and asked the permission to film this period of transition.
Mr Soda filmed some of Dr Yamamoto’s last sessions with the patients and his daily life with his wife and family.
“I am so grateful that they were willing to share such a private and intimate moment,” said the Japanese filmmaker.
He had no script and did not do any research before shooting. He wanted raw emotions, truth on how it is to age and to see people you love aging.
“The film brings death into its storytelling but doesn’t give it in a pessimistic way. It actually uses death as a way to celebrate life” said Dr. Tony Tracy, lecturer in Film Studies at the University of Galway, who organized the event with the East Asia Film Festival Ireland and Palas teams.
A bit of Japan in the ‘city of tribes’
Through this documentary, Kazuhiro Soda wants to offer an actual journey of thoughts on the notions of aging, caring and love in the Asian culture.
“It was so special to have something like that in Galway,” said Clara Dells Chiesa, a student in Film Studies at the University of Galway.
In fact, the movie delivers a lot of different emotions and people react to it in a different way in the different cultures. This is what noticed Ujii Molokai, a theater Japanese student at the University of Galway.
“What made them laugh was interesting because it was kinda different than me”, she said
She added that she “liked how everyone enjoyed the movie” in the audience.
Conor Byrne, another student in Film studies, said “it was quite enjoyable to see so many people showed up for this event”.
An emotional moment shared in the Irish cinema
Even if the lecturer saw the movie 3 times already, Tony Tracy was in tears at the end of the screening, as was most of the audience.
Mr Soda was glad to see the emotion in the audience, since it was a really intense experience for him.
“While rolling the camera, I was crying,” he said.
A friend of Clara and Conor, the ERASMUS student Inci Meijer said that, since she was on exchange, “having the opportunity to see a film maker and see his film was just amazing” to her.
“The feelings I felt during the movie are going to stay with me for a long time,” added the Swedish student.
Mr Soda will be travelling to promote his movie and attend screenings around Europe.
