Film director Kawazoe Biiral's work offers an opportunity to think about "half" and identity

■ Profile

His graduation project, "With the Waves" (2016), from the Broadcasting Film Department of Osaka Visual Arts College, was selected for the Nara International Film Festival NARA-wave and the 38th Pia Film Festival, and was selected for the Short Film Corner at the 69th Cannes Film Festival. His second short film, "WHOLE" (2019), won a Special Mention at the JAPAN CUTS Awards in the Indie Forum section of the 14th Osaka Asian Film Festival, and was officially selected for JAPAN CUTS 2019 in New York, the largest Japanese film festival in North America. He currently works as a freelancer, working on film production under director Naomi Kawase and other internationally acclaimed directors.

Kawazoe Biilal is the director of "WHOLE," which will be released in theaters on October 15th. We spoke to him about the joys and hardships of being a film director, as well as the highlights of the film, which deals with the not-so-common subject of half-Japanese identity. We also spoke about his future outlook as a film director.

■ What I found I want to do

When I was in elementary school, I wasn't particularly good at studying, and I didn't have any particular goals I wanted to achieve. I decided to pursue a career in video when I took a class called "Media Class" in my sixth year of elementary school or first year of junior high school. In this class, students take the lead in creating a video work, from shooting video with a camera to editing it, and while attending the class, I thought, "This is what I want to do!"

My father was a big movie fan, and my brother and I would often watch famous films like "The Godfather" in the living room. Influenced by that, I've always loved movies, so I wanted to be involved in the film industry.

After that, I went on to study at Osaka Visual Arts College, where I studied everything related to film. For my graduation project, I created a work on the theme of refugees. It told the story of internally displaced people due to the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident, and refugees from abroad who fled persecution in their own countries and remained in Japan. It was around this time that I began to create works that raised issues in society.

■ Hardship and reward are two sides of the same coin

I think of images as a language. When I create a film, I value conveying a message through it. Making a film is extremely difficult and exhausting, but it's those moments that make me feel alive.

A work only has meaning when it is seen by others. Therefore, even if you think your work is good, you have to keep working hard to create even better works that will be seen by many people.

I think the most difficult part of filmmaking is writing the script. Unlike other tasks, scriptwriting is essentially a solitary task, so it can often be mentally taxing. Furthermore, because a film is a visual work and not a play, the message must be conveyed through the images rather than relying solely on dialogue. Therefore, I always struggle to write lines that fit the natural situation. I also have to be conscious of writing a script that doesn't force my opinions on the viewer, so I find that extremely difficult as well.

About "WHOLE," created in collaboration with his younger brother

"WHOLE" was born out of my younger brother's desire to write a piece about mixed identity. The piece is based on his experiences, and the process of revising his script was lengthy and extremely challenging.

It was also difficult to find someone suitable to play the role of Haruki, the half-Japanese protagonist who feels like he "doesn't belong anywhere." But when I saw Sandy Kai's performance for the first time, I remember thinking, "He's Haruki!" We worked on the role through countless discussions and script readings. Including my younger brother, who plays the other half-Japanese protagonist, Makoto, the three of us are still good friends. Actually, my brother and Kai became so close that they started messing around during filming, which made it a little difficult.

■An opportunity to think about half and double

Now that the film is complete, it's the happiest moment for me. It makes me happy to think that many people will be able to see my work. This film deals with themes of being "half" and "double," which are topics we don't usually think about. In the story, Haruki, who deeply considers his identity and feels no place in Japan, and Makoto, who considers himself Japanese and lives his life without much thought about his origins, are polar opposites. Through their encounter, they each begin to search for their own identities. These themes are difficult and unanswerable. For this reason, I made the film with the intention of not providing complete answers or imposing my own opinions on the audience, but rather of making it something that will make them think. I believe it has an appeal that is different from other works. Even though I'm half-Japanese, I hadn't really thought much about my identity, but this film made me start to think about it.

■Any way of thinking is free, and no way of thinking is wrong.

There are many different types of people in the world, and among half-Japanese people there are some who have no problem being called "half," some who want to be called "double," and some who want to be called "mixed." However, I believe that all opinions are free and not wrong. This film also contains such a message. I hope that you will think deeply about this issue, which we don't usually think about much, as you watch the film.

■What I want to create in the future

I myself am still inexperienced and cannot yet proudly call myself a film director. That's why I want to continue working hard towards my dream of being able to proudly call myself a film director. I want to make films that have a message and that raise something for society. The film I'm currently making is based on the recent issue of "#ME TOO." Through this film, I want to raise awareness of sexual violence and the social issues surrounding it. This film is also very thought-provoking, so I hope you'll look forward to it. Also, most of the films I'm currently making are short films, so I would like to make a feature-length film someday.

■Message to university students

Being a university student is a time of worry and reflection. If you are worried about your identity or individuality, I highly recommend watching this movie. I believe it will enrich your life.

Interviewed by Student Newspaper Online on September 6, 2021 by Yuki Arihara, a first-year student at Keio University

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