OGAWA Shinsuke
The sixth project of Sanrizuka 7. The struggle that has continued for six years is now a daily routine for the residents. Many of them were arrested during the second execution, on top of that, a young farmer commits suicide in Heta Village. The camera is breaking away from chasing the scenes of the protests, but instead, focusing on the lifestyle and culture of the villagers. The change in the language shows the changes in director Shinsuke Ogawa¡¯s style, focusing more on the resident¡¯s past and present rather than chasing the scene of the struggle.
In 1972, shadows begin to swallow the Sanrizuka struggle. A young man in the village wrote a suicide note and killed himself in 1971, three police officers lost their lives in a clash due to the second forceful execution. As a result, with the airport authority enforcing sabotage and estranging solidarity with other villages, the Heta villagers face another crisis, in which most of the younger members are arrested. Instead of capturing the tense and violent clash, Ogawa Productions begins to explore the town calmly, capturing the history and customs of the villagers built over a long period. This film speaks in a different film language compared to the previous works. Changes are also found in the traditions of the village and the relationship between Ogawa production and the residents. The changes include women playing a significant role in various ceremonies and events of the village communities. Ogawa Productions has now become a member of the Heta Village community therefore the subject and the object of the film are unified into one. A huge accomplishment resulted from six years of struggle.
OGAWA Shinsuke
Ogawa Shinsuke is one of the most influential Japanese documentarians after the war. His filmmaking collective, OGAWA PRODUCTION, was created in the late 1960s and produced a number of films, such as the NARITA and MAGINO VILLAGE series, which dealt with political conflicts and grassroots culture in Japan. In addition, he played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival.