| Opening Film |
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Your Friends |
| Japan |
2008 |
125min |
35mm |
Hiroki Ryuichi |
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Recommended by Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science & Technology of Japan
Nakahara, a writer and reporter, visits a special school
in a small city for his research on the children who have
been refused from formal education. At the school, he
meets Emi, a volunteering college student with a crippled
leg.
The children call Emi "Ms. Puffy" because she
always takes pictures of clouds. Interested in the girl,
Nakahara asks her to be interviewed, but in vain. Emi
gradually changes her mind towards Nakahara as he visits
the school many times and becomes friends with the children.
Then, she tells him about her own childhood…
A new film by HIROKI Ryuichi, who has been portraying
human sensitivity through harmonious combination of image
and music.
Based on a novel with the same title by a popular Japanese
writer, Shigematsu Kiyoshi, it tells us about a crippled
girl and the people around her. Through slowly examining
a girl's growth, the film deals with the worries and pains
in adolescence, such as bullying, university entrance
exam and relationship with friends, while asking again
what a true friendship is. The director points out the
problems of today's Japanese youths, but, at the same
time, also tells us that there are hopes through the heroine
who wisely overcomes these problems. |
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| About the Director - HIROKI Ryuichi |
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Born in 1954 in Fukushima, Japan.
Since <Maohgai>(1993), the Grand Prix winner
in the Section of Fantastic Video at Yubari International
Fantastic Film Festival, HIROKI Ryuichi has been
creating critically acclaimed films such as
<800 Two Lap Runners>(1994), <Vibrator>(2003),
<Girlfriend>(2004) and <Kikansha Sensei>(2004).
He is apparently one of the most anticipated Japanese
directors at present. |
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| About the Author of Original Novel
- SHIGEMATSU Kiyoshi |
Born in 1963 in Yokayama, Japan. He has been writing
on the problems of Japanese youths, such as bullying,
and on the image of family in today's society. He won
Tsubota Youji literary award with <<Knife>>
in 1999, Yamamoto Shugoro award with <<Boy Meets
World>> in the same year and the 124th Naoki award
with <<Vitamin F>> in 2001.
He is one of the most distinguished writers in Japan,
and also has a lot of fans in Korea. |
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| Closing Film |
The Closing Films are chosen by the board of Jury from
the films in competition.
Also, the films made at SIYFF Camp will be shown just
before the closing ceremony. |
