Finding Refuge in Ishinomaki
石巻市立湊小学校避難所
Fujikawa Keizo
Japan/124min./2012
In Ishinomaki, the second largest city in Miyagi Prefecture in the wake of the March-11 disaster in 2011, there were as many as 50,758 survivors who took shelter in public refuges. Minato Public Elementary School near Old-Kitakami river was turned into one of the refuges. Filmmaker FUJIKAWA Keizo went to the refuge in April a month after the disaster. He stayed there by himself with no film crew for 6 months, living with the survivors, chronicling their day-to-day lives as they struggle to move forward. He recorded the victims speak their minds, the words that would never reach the broadcast news. He captured the tribulation and frustration of the life at the refuge. He also recorded how the life at the refuge unexpectedly empowered the survivors, bringing together the people whose lives had never crossed prior to the disaster. And how those who had lost their houses and families became one big family at Ishinomaki Minato School Refuge.
Title in English | Finding Refuge in Ishinomaki |
---|---|
Title in Original Language | 石巻市立湊小学校避難所 |
Director(s) | Fujikawa Keizo |
Director's Bio/Filmography | Born in Kagawa Prefecture in 1968. After graduating from Chuo University, Fujikawa pursued a film career and took on a post as assistant director of Zeze Takahiro's film, "Raigyo". Following the business in fiction films and television production, he produced some independent films. "Still Life" won a prize at the PIA film festival in 2001. Later on, he directed a documentary film based on the theme of family rebirth that featured his family, "Saoya no Tsuki" (2005). |
Year of Completion | 2012 |
Nationality of the Film | Japan |
Running Time | 124 min. |
Aspect Ratio | Video: 16:9 |
Color | Color |
Screening Format | BDDVD |
Shooting Locations | Minato Elementary School in Ishinomaki |
Shooting Dates/Periods | April 21, 2011 - October 11, 2011 |
Names of Characters | |
Language of Commentary and Dialogue | Japanese, |
Subtitles | English, |
Date of First Public Screening | 2012/8/18 |
Place of First Public Screening (Country) | Tokyo, Japan |
Date of First Public Screening in Japan | 2012/8/18 |
Previous Screenings at Other Film Festivals and Events | Taiwan International Documentary Festival (2012) Dubai International Film Festival (2012) |
Staff Credits |
Photography: Fujikawa Keizo Editing: Imai Toshihiro Others:Hwang YoungChang (Sound Mixer), Zeze Takahisa (Producer) |
Producer | Sakaguchi Kazunao |
Distributor / Distribution Company | Moviola |
Official Website for the Film | http://www.minatohinanjo.com/ |
Other Online Access to the film | |
Screenings at the Past YIDFF Programs and Events | None |