2024/9/15/ Japan Film Festival Los Angeles 2024: “Higashi Elementary” to be screened online from Sep. 1-15
111 minutes, Japan, 2023
Directed by Hiroshi Horiuchi
Available online from Sept. 1, 12:00 a.m. through Sept. 16, 12:00 a.m.
Higashi Elementary
Izumo City, Shimane Prefecture is renowned as the setting of Japan’s founding mythology. A real-life school there, Higashi Elementary was forced to close due to the declining birthrate.
Nakao, an alumnus of the school and film director living in Tokyo, had lost a lot work, and been served with divorce papers from his wife in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Then, Ms. Ohashi, a community center employee from his hometown, approached him about making a film to memorialize Higashi Elementary. At a loss for any ideas, Nakao is led by a young staff member for the movie, Hanada, who takes it upon herself to interview the children set to appear in it.
Her dedication, along with the children’s memories and dreams spark a change in Nakao to finally begin filming the movie Higashi Elementary.
