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Film Update

Catch up with film subjects Yama-san and his wife, Sayuri, and find out about Campaign's screenings and filmmaker Kazuhiro Soda's upcoming projects.

  • July 30, 2008

Campaign: YamauchiKazuhiko "Yama-san" Yamauchi: Yama-san's term as a city councilman ended in May 2007, but he did not run for a second term because the party didn't endorse him. Since the birth of his first son, Yuki, on June 17, 2007, he's been a full-time father, or "house husband," and he's a very happy dad. Yama-san has traveled to Berlin, Paris, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Seoul and New York to greet Campaign audiences and has been interviewed by media all over the world. When the film was released theatrically in Japan, he became a well-known public figure and was interviewed by national television, radio, newspapers and magazines. He published a book, Juminto de Senkyo to Giin wo Yarimashita, which chronicles his experience as a candidate and a city councilman, and he is enjoying his stardom right now.

Campaign: SayuriSayuri Yamauchi: Sayuri did not quit her job. She continues to work for an American corporation in Tokyo.

 

 

Campaign: SodaKazuhiro Soda: Soda is currently finishing up Mental (the second film in his observational film series), a documentary about the world of mentally ill patients in Japan. He is also shooting Seinendan (working title: the third film in his observational film series) which depicts the creative process of a theater group headed by internationally acclaimed playwright Hirata Oriza.


Kazuhiko "Yama-san" Yamauchi and filmmaker Kazuhiro Soda outside New York's Museum of Modern Art after a screening of Campaign.

Kazuhiko "Yama-san" Yamauchi and filmmaker Kazuhiro Soda outside New York's Museum of Modern Art after a screening of Campaign.

Film: A 120-minute version of Campaign was invited to about 30 film festivals around the globe, including the Berlin Film Festival, SXSW, Cinema du Reel, Hong Kong and Yamagata. In Japan, the film was released theatrically in more than 20 cities across the nation, and enjoyed great critical success. Its 60-minute version was broadcast in nearly 200 countries as a part of the Why Democracy? series co-produced by 33 broadcasters around the world, including PBS, BBC, ARTE/ZDF, CBC and NHK.

 


  • Posted on July 30, 2008
  • Updated on August 28, 2009

Talk About This

Filmmaker Kazuhiro Soda on BBC World News

New tricks as Japan election looms
BBC World News Service
August 17, 2009

US-style political consultants are increasingly being used to help candidates target particular groups, such as women or mothers.

Policy is being discussed; both parties have produced manifestos addressing issues like healthcare spending, pension reform, government waste and child-care benefits.

"Now the voters have no choice but to pay attention to each party, to what they are offering, and to take them as deciding factors," says Kazuhiro Soda, director of Campaign. Read more »


by Theresa Riley from San Francisco, CA
August 28, 2009, 2:57 PM

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When I was shooting Campaign I wanted to be as invisible as possible. I wanted to be a fly on the wall.”

— Kazuhiro Soda, Filmmaker

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