We are very proud to present the Japanese independent film 『有り、触れた、未来』Ari Fureta Mirai or Eternal New Mornings (English title) directed by Toru Yamamoto this summer at Doki Doki Japanese Festival in Manchester.
The film is about the importance of community and finding the strength to live after a tragic natural disaster befalls a small coastal town.
HABaLook’s Yuka Harada-Parr translated the film trailer from Japanese to English. You can watch it on YouTube here (please turn ON subtitles/CC):
Eternal New Mornings is an original story inspired by the book 生かされて生きる―震災を語り継ぐ Ikasarete Ikiru: Life lessons from the Great East Japan Earthquake, written by Yukio Saito, who was a headmaster of a high school hit by the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami of 2011. Saito-Sensei continues to give lectures on disaster prevention around Japan.
The film’s story revolves around several characters: A pro boxer who doesn’t give up fighting; his wife, who has terminal cancer but wants to stay alive as long as she possibly can to attend her daughter’s wedding. A group of young actors who perform a “story of a soul”, while feeling anxious about their own future. And lastly, a girl who has lost her family members to a natural disaster and has thoughts of suicide.
Each of the characters suffer different hardships, but they are all stories about carrying on.
Here is a message from the film’s Writer and Director, Toru Yamamoto (山本 透), telling us the inspiration behind the film.
“It is about people who suffered deep wounds in their hearts, but came together to support each other for the sake of their children. By depicting their lives, I want to bring “the strength to live” to viewers through the screen. That’s why I chose to set it in an area affected by the Earthquake. The countless koinobori streamers that you see in the ending are a Japanese traditional symbol embodying the hope that our children will grow up to be healthy and strong.”
“Many of the people in Japan who commit suicide are actors and performers. But in an era filled with war, poverty, infectious disease, and other dark things, artistic creatives need to keep our spirits up, work together, and bring people into a brighter future. I believe in the power of culture and the power of film. And I hope that many people can experience the energy of this film in the theatre and come to believe in a brighter future.”
Doki Doki – The Manchester Japanese Festival takes place Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th September 2023.
Ticket Details: http://dokidokifestival.com/
Ari Fureta Mirai’s website: https://arifuretamirai.wixsite.com/home
