It is in the most ordinary of times that humanity seeps through.
Kora-san, looking back on your performance in Matsui's film, how did you feel about it?
Kora:When I first read the script, I just thought it was interesting. I was so excited the moment I finished reading it that I said to Hamaken (Kenta Hamano), "This book is great, isn't it? I said to him, "This book is great, let's work hard together. He didn't know anything about it (laughs). (Laughs.) It is common for actors' names to be listed as candidates, but I got excited and got the order wrong...I did it....
Matsui:That's interesting to hear again and again (laughs).
Kora:I have been watching Matsui's films for a long time now, and I have always felt that he is playing with his films. While there is a sense of groove and momentum, I believe that Matsui-san has a firm set of rules in his mind. And even though all of his films are filled with his personal feelings, they do not end there. I like stories in which the issue becomes a problem for all the characters when you realize it. Also, as is the case with this film, Matsui's unique composition and development, in which he creates parts to be shown and parts not to be shown, is also appealing.
Do you have any rules for making films, as you mentioned?
Matsui:As Mr. Kora said, I place importance on not depicting what should be depicted. For example, in this film, I don't want to depict a clear parting, or the contrived scene at the festival where the six become friends. I don't like scenes that are considered dramatic. I feel that the human touch comes out more when I put myself in so-called unimportant moments, such as the night when the promise is about to be broken, or the year following the third anniversary of the death of a loved one, instead of the trip that is taken every year as a matter of course.
Kora:After such a long time, the scene where they throw their hearts to each other. Why did you paint this scene?
Matsui:That was strange, but I wanted to throw hearts at each other. I just had to (laughs).
Kora:Eh (laughs).
Matsui:When we were shooting, Kora-kun tried to get into a heart-throwing emotional state, and even after the cut was made, he was still kind of funny. He was laughing the whole time, right? That was very impressive.
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Kora:No, I really can't do that scene... (laughs). I'm sorry I can't talk about it here, but the way everyone's hearts were pressed together was...well, it was just weird (laughs). When I read the script, that scene made me tremble. When I read the script, I thought it was a very noble story that could be likened to a religious teaching.
Matsui:Is it about the other side of death, or what?
Kora:Our bodies are essentially containers..." or some such metaphor for life and life. But in reality, he just wanted to throw the heart (laughs).
You said that you did not want to depict the important parts of the film, but as I followed the interactions between the six actors, I felt the past time that was not depicted on the screen. How was it for you to work with the six actors, and how was it for Mr. Takara?
Matsui:I was asked earlier to define a friend, and I couldn't answer well, so I thought about it for a while, but I think there is no conflict of interest. In short, it is established without any gain or loss there. The actors are not trying to stand out because of their good acting or because they are good at passing this line. They are just there. I think that this lack of profit and loss was also shared by the performers.
Kora:I see. I really enjoyed being on set. As I mentioned earlier, when I was working with these co-stars, I could do the play without having to clarify anything. I think each of us was thinking about how we would react if we asked each other questions, or how we would react if we asked each other questions.
I guess I don't want to be too clear.
Kora:Yes, it was not to push through with groove or momentum, but more like aesthetics and rules for expressing oneself, and I think it was unusual to be able to do it without making that clear, and it was important in this work. What do you think of these six characters from the director's point of view?
Matsui:If I was editing the footage or watching the finished video, I would think, "I wish I could meet them..." But when I actually meet the actors themselves who played them, my mind gets all messed up because they are not the same as the roles they played. The real actors themselves are a bit more ghastly... (laughs).
Kora:(Laughs). We are all pricks but good guys, so let's meet again!
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