W-AB movies [part 2]

continuation from part 1 and post entry at Treasure Jbox blog:

inagaki goro would be the lead cast in “Elephant @ ZOU” stageplay on 5.3.2010 till 30.3.2010.
the story is based on Betsuyaku Minoru’s early work [one of his best]. it’s about the hardships and the sufferings of those atomic bomb’s victims; which revolved around humanistic issues – their vulnerability and sacrifice.

somehow i like this kind of plot~ atomic bomb. i’m always curious and admire how that country could struggle and re-born after the big historical event. i wonder if it wasn’t happened, how my country would be now on the mark of Japanese administrative compared to British imperial system.

by the way, with the same theme of Atomic Bombing
[1]matsu takako did a special drama “Hiroshima Showa 20 nen 8 Gatsu Muika” – a first project of Nada Sou Sou song by natsukawa rimi.
[2] tanaka rena did a movie “Yunagi no Machi, Sakura no Kuni”
[3] matsushima nanako did her social responsibility as narrator in a documentary movie of “Gate~ A True Story @ Atomic Flame” – with theme song by yuna ito.
.............

Hiroshima Showa 20 nen 8 Gatsu Muika is a special year 2005 drama done by TBS channel as the first of Nada Sou Sou project. the story about three sisters and their youngest brother in a small town, Tenjin-cho [a demolished area somewhere around Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park]. matsu takako is a lead cast as the big sister. the drama is about their life story during end year WWII, before and during a-bombing tragedy.

the drama was broadcasting in august 2005 which got 28% high viewership rating from Hiroshima region [not including average rating from other regions]. it was re-run again in september 2006 with additional unpublished scenes. National Association of Commercial Broadcasters in Japan (NAB) chose this drama as the winner of Best Television Program Award for year 2006. this drama directed by my favorite Fukuzawa Katsuo (the gentle 'giant' who directed Watashi wa Kai ni Naritai movie) - fukuzawa really good in making war movies.

besides matsu, other favorite casts here like kokubun taichi, tamayama tetsuji and nagasawa masami. nishida toshiyuki was the elderly who did the story-telling.

Yunagi no Machi, Sakura no Kuni [Yunagi city, Sakura country] is a live-action movie directed by Kiyoshi Sasabe based on Town of Evening Calm, Country of Cherry Blossoms manga. the manga was wrote and illustrated by Fumiyo Kono in year 2003-2004 in Weekly Manga Action; which then received several grand prizes for manga awards and international recognition for its 'silent-human-anti war' message.
the story is split into two-related story, which focused on the first and second generations of survivor. also about long-term effects of radiation poisoning and the illness suffered by most survivors. in Hiroshima, people do take care whatever all the left standing atomic bombed trees because it's been said that Hiroshima - the city where no plants could be grown for 75 years. here, kumiko aso as the main cast for first story [first generation] and rena tanaka as the main lead for the second story [second generation]. for this movie, kumiko aso received several awards.

since matsu and rena were involving the same theme which is hiroshima a-bomb, i did a short fan video "Roots of Love" from those above drama and movie using B'z song, few years ago.

last year 2008, i heard about nanako matsushima's new project as a narrator for charity movie, GATE ~ A True Story which also known as "Atomic Flame"; produced by Global Nuclear Disarmament Fund [an alliance of five NGOs that gathered during the 2005 Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference at the United Nations in New York City].

the story is about a documentary of true story of Buddhist Monks walked endlessly between Hiroshima and Nagasaki which had been done for few decades - believed that their selfless sacrifice and prayers for peace will make Nagasaki the last city in the world ever to know the horrors of Nuclear War. one day, the monks walk was being participated by native Americans, Veterans, and peace groups of all faiths for their final 1600 mile journey across deserts, over mountain ranges and through more than 250 communities as they walked from San Francisco to the Trinity Test Site in New Mexico, location of the first Atomic Bomb detonation.

for japanese version, nanako matsushima did the narration. the theme song was done by a collaboration of yuna ito [america], composer yoshihiro ike [japan] and Russian National Orchestra led by legendary conductor mikhail pletnev [russia]. my favorite actor martin sheen also featured in this documentary movie. this movie still not released yet .. however we could still watch the short footage of the movie on net.

........

while i'm writing this post entry, i do searching and digging to gain some knowledge, even though i knew what our history book wrote. i watched videos [japanese movies and international documentaries].
i read the compilation of essays made by the atomic bomb survivors and victims.
i look through all photos and the drawings made by them with the explanation.
seriously, i cannot take it anymore. and i couldn't write well here.
it's really painful. ~ hontou ni hontou...

duu~ i'm not feeling well now. totally sick - almost going to vomit.
the real situation that happened to those civilians were something out of my mind.
i guess those americans who did the dropping at that Day, already
speechless scared with what they saw - the real effect live in front of their eyes.
..... so, let me take some rest for awhile.  

here the song
Eien no Tsubasa by B'z

B'z - Eien no tsub...

i wonder if i could find Yunagi Sakura in english sub here. anyway, after watched Hiroshima tanpatsu... i like Hiroshima presentation in term of visual, sounds, script and acting. i lost my breath for certain time watching masami (third sister) and her friend being chased by komoto [the japanese army @ clothing factory instructor] - what a loooooong scene!

also the part when the young brother was beaten by superior during his brutal training, remind me of Watashi wa Kai ni Naritai movie (but here, the boy was so young compared to that nakai). matsu as usual did her best job. although kato ai is not my fav, but at least better her than aibu saki. kato ai was ok here. although at certain part she failed to show her ideology or strong intention to change the situation. [or else, what kind of good reason to put matsu sitting outside the building under the heavy rain, apologized and asking bravely from the higher-ranking military officer to release her sister].

the chemistry of kato-tamayama just ok. not strong though. same thing between matsu and kokubun. their chemistry quite weak, but still ok because i didn't concern it much. but still when matsu was alone... i could feel her longing to her boyfriend. especially when she started humming 'Over The Rainbow' song.. and on that hill towards the sea-view, when she started singing the song [yes, it's not the first time matsu sang in english ne]... from the sound, without seeing her face, i could feel she's mustering up her strength, singing while holding back her tears.

the young brother such a gentle person ne. both satoshi tamiura (during his teens) and toshiyuki nishida (during his elderly) did superb job here. i could feel their tenderness to people, pets and plants from their voice. although it might sounds childish, the character of young brother was strongly touching. i could feel their cheerfulness (outside appearance) and sadness (deep inside). the best scene of tamiura was a family farewell at train station meanwhile nishida did a great closing at ending scene.

a continuation from Tora-Tora-Tora ...
here's a bits and pieces about Ore wa Kimi no Tameni Koso, Shini ni Iku [I Decided to Die For You] or well known as "For Those We Love" movie.
- B'z was responsible for the theme song "Eien no Tsubasa" and image song "The Wings" [as usual matsumoto tak did the composing and inaba koshi did the lyric].
- the movie was about the true story of young kamikaze pilots of Chiran Air Base that had been told by Tome Torihama, a woman who ran a restaurant at Chiran town where those pilots were her frequent customers.

i knew the movie because of B'z and yosuke kubozuka, michitaka tsutsui, mikako tabe were among the casts. after watched the movie, i started reading a great compilation facts done by Bill Gordon. emm~ somehow... Gordon's explanation of those kamikaze's images from japanese point view is exactly same like what i think. my strong perception.

for Ore Wa Kimi movie, i guess the character of restaurant owner [Tome Torihama] was the most memorable for me. that woman was like a mother to those young pilots. the role play was held by a veteran actress Kishi Keiko. i was glad to know she rejected the script several times because she thought the screenplay glorified the war too much. if not because of her, i guess this movie wouldn't be softened as it would be now. regarding those individual stories of pilot ~ i received the message. but the scene of admiral's ritual suicide was not exactly an answer for us. being tokyo governor at that time, i guess Ishihara (movie writer) was avoiding few matters that related to 'who gonna take the responsibility for those thousands victims and young pilot's death'. ..... anyway, at least.. Kishi Keiko really save this movie. and for real thing, we could see the scene of kamikaze pilot crashing their aircrafts into Allied warships, not just air or sea explosion.


right now... i'm thinking to buy an independent documentary 2007 movie of Wings of Defeat - a rare interview of surviving kamikaze pilots [at the age of 80s] - sharing their true stories and personal opinions. there's another journey where two survivors of  USS Drexler destroyer meeting with a survivor of kamikaze pilot. .... Wings of Defeat done by filmmakers - Risa Morimoto and Linda Hoaglund. oh, remember the Bill Gordon i mentioned above. i just realized that he was the consultant for this documentary movie.

i must say Wings of Defeat is much much better and worth to watch .. seeking the truth by highlighting views from both sides. maa ~ shopping online thru paypal is a bit hassle for me. could someone just send it to the store shelf.