Japanese filmmakers Yamada Yoji and Lee Sang-il shared their insights on art, rivalry, and the future of Japanese cinema at the Tokyo International Film Festival's TIFF Lounge series.
Yamada, director of "Tokyo Taxi," and Lee, recipient of this year's Kurosawa Akira Award for his film "Kokuho," expressed admiration for each other's work. Yamada called Lee a national treasure while Lee praised Yamada's dedication to filmmaking. The two also discussed their differing approaches to the art form.
Yamada pointed out that "Kokuho" is notable for its focus on the intense rivalry between its two protagonists, who are both performers of female roles in Kabuki. Unlike typical films about male friendship, which often feature a woman as a catalyst for conflict, "Kokuho" maintains a complex and nuanced relationship dynamic.
The conversation also touched on Lee's preparation process for his film, during which the lead actors spent over a year and a half learning Kabuki from scratch. Yamada noted that this intense rehearsal process directly shaped the characters' relationships, adding depth to the drama.
Veteran actor Tanaka Min also made an appearance in both films, playing a key role in "Tokyo Taxi." Yamada expressed his disappointment with Tanaka's acting abilities, stating that he hadn't improved since their previous collaboration. However, Lee countered that Tanaka brought a unique presence and dancerly quality to the screen.
Yamada discussed his approach to filmmaking, emphasizing the importance of directorial presence and immersion in capturing performances. He noted that having the director close to the camera made all the difference in conveying emotions to the audience.
The conversation also touched on the disparity between Japanese live-action films' international profile and anime's global success. Yamada lamented the relatively low profits for Japanese films compared to their anime counterparts, attributing this to a lack of support from both the government and audiences. He emphasized the need for Japan to recommit itself to filmmaking as a national policy.
Overall, the conversation offered valuable insights into the creative processes and philosophies behind two distinctive Japanese filmmakers' works.
Yamada, director of "Tokyo Taxi," and Lee, recipient of this year's Kurosawa Akira Award for his film "Kokuho," expressed admiration for each other's work. Yamada called Lee a national treasure while Lee praised Yamada's dedication to filmmaking. The two also discussed their differing approaches to the art form.
Yamada pointed out that "Kokuho" is notable for its focus on the intense rivalry between its two protagonists, who are both performers of female roles in Kabuki. Unlike typical films about male friendship, which often feature a woman as a catalyst for conflict, "Kokuho" maintains a complex and nuanced relationship dynamic.
The conversation also touched on Lee's preparation process for his film, during which the lead actors spent over a year and a half learning Kabuki from scratch. Yamada noted that this intense rehearsal process directly shaped the characters' relationships, adding depth to the drama.
Veteran actor Tanaka Min also made an appearance in both films, playing a key role in "Tokyo Taxi." Yamada expressed his disappointment with Tanaka's acting abilities, stating that he hadn't improved since their previous collaboration. However, Lee countered that Tanaka brought a unique presence and dancerly quality to the screen.
Yamada discussed his approach to filmmaking, emphasizing the importance of directorial presence and immersion in capturing performances. He noted that having the director close to the camera made all the difference in conveying emotions to the audience.
The conversation also touched on the disparity between Japanese live-action films' international profile and anime's global success. Yamada lamented the relatively low profits for Japanese films compared to their anime counterparts, attributing this to a lack of support from both the government and audiences. He emphasized the need for Japan to recommit itself to filmmaking as a national policy.
Overall, the conversation offered valuable insights into the creative processes and philosophies behind two distinctive Japanese filmmakers' works.
They're so down-to-earth and real, you know? It's like they're having a chill chat about filmmaking over coffee 
️. What really stood out to me was how different their approaches are - Yamada is all about that directorial presence 
, whereas Lee takes a more nuanced approach to his craft 
. And can we talk about Tanaka Min for a second? 
I feel like Yamada's got some harsh words for him 
but honestly, Lee makes a solid case for the dude's unique energy 
. It's interesting how they compare Japanese live-action films to anime - I think it's true that Japan needs to get its filmmaking game on fire 
if we wanna compete with the likes of Korea and China. Anyway, these TIFF Lounge series are always a great way to geek out over film 
I'm not really one for the film scene but it's cool to see these legendary directors sharing their thoughts on art and making movies. Yamada Yoji and Lee Sang-il seem like total opposites, which is pretty interesting. Like, they both love Kabuki, but Yamada thinks it makes "Kokuho" unique while Lee sees Tanaka Min as a game-changer. The fact that Tanaka Min was in both films is wild, I wonder what other collaborations they've done? 
Anyway, it's awesome to see them supporting each other, even when they disagree on things like acting abilities. It's all good vibes, you know? 
. Yamada Yoji's attention to detail in capturing the complexities of Kabuki is seriously impressive 
. And Lee Sang-il's dedication to learning new skills for his craft? Iconic 
. It's awesome that Tanaka Min was a part of both projects, bringing a unique energy to each film 
.
. I think he's right on point about needing more support from the government and audiences 
. Maybe it's time for Japan to prioritize its filmmakers again? 
We could use more inspiring stories like these!
[Kabuki actor struggles to do traditional dance moves in modern setting]
! But seriously, having that kind of depth and nuance in films is what keeps me coming back for more. Those long rehearsal periods really do add something special to the performances...
. Like, anime is killing it globally, but live-action films just can't seem to catch a break 
. I mean, Yamada and Lee are total legends in their own right, but why aren't more of these talented filmmakers getting the love they deserve? 
Maybe we need to rethink how Japan approaches film as a national policy? 
. Anyway, I'm loving this chat with Yamada and Lee - it's so inspiring to see these artists pushing boundaries and taking risks 
. It's like they're saying that if you want something to last, you gotta put in the work. And it paid off, right? Their films are getting attention globally. But what does that really say about us as an audience? Are we supporting our own creators or do we just care about the big-name anime franchises? 
those directors Yamada & Lee are killin it with their unique approaches to storytelling. i gotta say, i was a bit surprised by Tanaka's diss from Yamada tho 
his acting skills have been stuck in neutral for years and no one's gonna give him a hard time. but hey, at least he brought some weird energy to the screen 
the way Lee Sang-il handled Kabuki for his film "Kokuho" tho is insane over a year and half to learn from scratch that's dedication fam! also, what's up with the disparity between live-action and anime 
. I mean, we're still producing some amazing stories, but the government support for film is like, super lacking 
? We need to bring back that old-school Hollywood magic to make us stand out again 
.