NARAtive2020
Section
The NIFF’s Filmmaking Project
NARAtive2020 is a filmmaking project in which we work with a young film director who received an award at the NIFF 2018 International Competition, and by setting the film in Nara, we connect the present with the future, and Nara with the world. In 2020, we will have the premiere screening of Tracing Her Shadow, which was filmed in Gose City, Nara.
Tracing Her Shadow
After many years working in Japan, Xiaoze’s “Grandma” comes from China to visit, hoping to learn the whereabouts of the returned Japanese war orphan she had raised as her own daughter. With limited knowledge they follow her trail, making friends and discovering a unique human experience.
Japanese Premiere
Screening Dates, Times, and Venues
- Sep. 19 10:30～ Sep. 22 10:00～
- Nara City Naramachi Center Shimin Hall
Guest Talk Session After Screening
Online
Screening
None
Director：Pengfei
- China, Japan
- 2020
- 99min
- Color
- DCP
- Chinese, Japanese
- JPN & ENG Sub.
出演 國村隼、ウー・ヤンシュ、イン・ズー、秋山真太郎、永瀬正敏、ザン・ウェイ、五頭岳夫、田中龍、吉永美和、上村文喜、梅本弘美│脚本 ポンフェイ│撮影 リャオ・ペンジュン│編集 チェン・ボーウェン│音楽 鈴木慶一│エグゼクティブプロデューサー 河瀨直美、ジャ・ジャンクー│共同製作 21インコーポレーション 製作 © 2020 “再会の奈良” Beijing Hengye Herdsman Pictures Co., Ltd, Nara International Film Festival, X Stream Pictures (Beijing)
Pengfei
Born in China in 1982. After studying film at a film school in Paris, France, Pengfei returned to China in 2006 and worked as the assistant director of Tsai Ming Liang (Taiwan). His debut feature Underground Fragrance premiered in 2015 Venice Days. His second feature The Taste of Rice Flower won the Audience Award at 2018 Nara International Film Festival.
Director’s Statement
“Sino-Japanese friendship” is an important theme I’ve always wanted to shoot. Sadly, mentioning Japan to modern Chinese people commonly evokes memories of the tragic war. But war ends, and love doesn’t. Between the people of China and Japan there are many touching, bright stories of humanity. Before the real memories of war still stay with us, I want to seize the moment and tell a story of great love of the two peoples.
Director
Trailer
About NARAtive
Started in 2009, the NARAtive filmmaking project connects the present with the future, and Nara with the rest of the world. Ten years have passed since then, and now Tracing Her Shadow will be the 7th film made in this project. With the help of cities and villages like Nara, Kashihara, Totsukawa, Gojo, Higashi Yoshino, Tenri, and Gose, we’ve made seven films with young directors from Japan, China, Mexico, Korea, Cuba, and Iran, and these films have all received critical acclaim at film festivals around the world.
Making films with the local community sparks a love for the land from the residents, and brings out a new kind of communication with someone from another country. Connections created in such a way are what give this festival the power to reach out to the rest of the world. During this film festival, we will be making all of the NARAtive films we have made up to now available online. We hope that through film, you can take in the many treasures that Nara has to offer.
Previous NARAtive Films
- Bion
- Director: Toyoko Yamasaki (Japan) | Location: Nara City | Official Selection Torino International Film Festival 2010
- Last Chestnuts
- Director: Zhao Ye (China) | Location: Kashihara City | Official Selection Torino International Film Festival 2010
- Inori
- Director: Pedro González-Rubio (Mexco) | Location: Totsukawa Village | Locarno International Film Festival 2012 the Pardo d’oro Cineasti del presente Prize
- A Midsummer’s Fantasia
- Director & Screenplay: JANG Kunjae (S.Korea) | Location: Gojo City | The 19th Pusan International Film Festival in 2014, Directors Guild of Korea Award , and more
- The Wolves of the East
- Director: Carlos M. Quintela (Cuba) | Location: Higashi Yoshino Village | World Cinema Amsterdam 2018 Official Selection
- The Nikaidos’ Fall
- Director: Ida Panahandeh (Iran) | Location: Tenri City | 2019 Hong Kong International Film Festival Official selection