YOKOHAMA Satoko
Set in a coastal town that supports artist relocation, this is the story of Sosuke, a laid-back fourteen-year-old in the school art club. Even during summer vacation, he stays busy alongside his friends ??painting backdrops for the drama club, helping with interviews for the school newspaper, and more. Scattered throughout the town are an intriguing array of artists, each living life in their own way. As the carefree lives of the children intersect with the adults burdened by secrets and lies, the dazzling ocean shimmers under the sun. While the children dive headfirst into the challenges before them, the adults fumble their way toward "the right answer." A distinctive, heartwarming film that celebrates each character's own lovable way of living.
The original manga Umibe é Iku Michi by Gin Miyoshi is poetic and fantastical at the same time. This manga has a tenderness to embrace humans who are full of paradox. We live in a society where no mistakes are allowed. Those liars, insanities and black humor in the manga let me breathe in this world where people lost tolerance.
I got a chance to adapt this manga into a film. I had worked on it for some years, and I always had numerous possibilities and choices at every stage including at the scenario writing, at the shooting and at the editing. It is because in the original manga by Mr. Miyoshi, there is already the tolerance for the liberty of creation. I tried to keep the tolerance for my film. The tolerance to let the audience understand the film from each point of view. The tolerance allows even not to understand it.
I hope you will enjoy this small story by the ordinally people.
Born in 1978, Yokohama graduated from the Film School of Tokyo in 2004. Her graduation short film, Chiemi and Kokkunpatcho (2006), won a grant, and she independently produced her first feature film, German plus Rain (2007), which was released theatrically nationwide. The 2021 film Ito won several domestic awards. She is known for her talent in capturing intangible elements of everyday life with unique and expressive storytelling.