Nagasaki Shunichi
NAGASAKI Shunichi (1956, Japan) studied at the Cinema Department of the College of Art at Nihon University. As a student, he produced independent films in 8mm and 16mm format. In 1982, he made his theatrical film debut with The Lonely Hearts Club Band in September (1986), and was invited to the Sundance Institute, presided over by Robert Redford. On his return to Japan, he released The Enchantment (1989), receiving the Sakura Silver Award at the Tokyo International Film Festival and International Film Critics Award. His latest film How to find Happiness (2022) was selected for IFFR 2023.
Filmography
25-ji no butôha (1975), Baku o bukkorose (1975), Zôka no kareru kisetsu (1975), Yumeko zanshi (1977) , Yuki ga Rock wo suteta natsu / The Summer Yuki Gave Up Rock Music (1978), The Back Side of Happy Street (1979) (all short), The Lonely Hearts Club Band in September (1982), Yamiutsu shinzô / Heart, Beating in the Dark (1982), Sono ato (1982, short?), London Calling (1985, short), Rokky Yo, Shizuka Ni Nagare Yo / Rock Requiem (1988), Yôjo no jidai (1988, TV), Yûwakusha / The Enchantment (1989), Yoru no stranger, kyofu! /Stranger (1991, direct to video), Saigo no drive / The Last Drive (1992, TV), Wairusaidu / Wild Side (1993, TV), Romansu / Some Kinda Love (1996), Doggusu / Dogs (1998), Shikoku / Shikoku, Ghost Land (1999), Yawaraka na hoo/ A Tender Place (2001, TV), Rôdoku kikô Nippon no meisaku “Sakura no mori no mankai no shita” (2001, TV), Riô / Liou (2001, TV), Yamiutsu shinzô / Heart, Beating in the Dark (05 version) (2005), Christmas in August (2005), Kuro-Obi/Black Belt (2007), Itsuka, Itsumo, Itsumademo/How to Find Happiness (2022)
More info: Wikipedia, Nagasaki Shunichi
Nagasaki Shunichi at IFFR
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How to Find Happiness
Nagasaki Shunichi | 113' | Japan | International premiere
A solemn physician meets the doppelgänger of his loved one in this cordial, light-footed romance. -
Shikoku
Nagasaki Shunichi | 100' | Japan | -
A mother uses a legend of Shikoku, a place of pilgrimage, to bring back her dead daughter from the underworld. But her beloved child does… -
Heart, Beating in the Dark (original version)
Nagasaki Shunichi | 75' | Japan | None
This Super8 film that is not well enough known is one of the Modernist Japanese classics of the 1980s. A young couple borrows a friend’s… -
The Enchantment
Nagasaki Shunichi | 109' | Japan | None
Stylised, idiosyncratic thriller with a typical mixture of sensuality and irrationality. The psychiatrist Sotomura becomes fascinated by his patient M -
Dogs
Nagasaki Shunichi | 78' | Japan | None
Film noir and hard-boiled love story shot in black & white and on video, with wonderful camerawork, montage and casting about the hard female cop… -
The Drive
Nagasaki Shunichi | 93' | Japan | None
Beautiful thriller and wonderful psychological portrait. Muroi Shigeru – also the star of Heart Beating in the Dark – sparkles as a woman who shop… -
The Summer Yuki Gave Up Rock Music
Nagasaki Shunichi | 72' | Japan | None
Nagasaki’s film about the explosion of a group of friends is situated in the music business. A female vocalist breaks with her manager and sets… -
Some Kinda Love
Nagasaki Shunichi | 94' | Japan | None
Unusual, tragicomic three-cornered relationship refers to Jules et Jim, but is about real people. The life of a urban planning official and that of an -
Wild Side
Nagasaki Shunichi | 33' | Japan | None
Very personal, experimental video made for the satellite channel Wowow, about the three cornered relationship between a radio DJ and two very differen -
The Lonely Hearts Club Band in September
Nagasaki Shunichi | 104' | Japan | International première
Nagasaki’s first 35mm film is an emotional story about the biker who doesn’t want a ride his bike after his best friend deliberately killed himself…