The 38th Tokyo International Film Festival hosted a stage greeting event for its Gala Selection film, "TOKYO Taxi," in Hibiya on the 29th. Stars Chieko Baisho and Takuya Kimura joined director Yoji Yamada on stage to a packed house.
Now 93, Director Yoji Yamada also received the "Festival Special Achievement Award." In his acceptance speech, he emotionally reminisced about the golden era of Japanese cinema and expressed heartfelt respect for today's filmmakers.
"TOKYO Taxi" is an adaptation of the 2022 French film "Driving Madeleine," released in Japan. Director Yoji Yamada relocated the story to Tokyo, crafting a heartwarming tale of hope and encounters in the latter half of life. As a key "Gala Selection" film, it earned thunderous applause from the audience during its big-screen premiere.
Takuya Kimura spoke about the evolving viewing experience, noting, "While you can now enjoy films at home with just a remote control, sharing a movie on the big screen with an audience is still the most moving experience." Director Yoji Yamada nodded in agreement, adding, "During filming, I constantly reminded myself that this was a movie meant to be seen on a large screen, together with many people."
This film marks Yoji Yamada's 91st directorial effort. Accepting the "Special Achievement Award," he humbly chuckled, "I've just lived long enough to make too many movies." But his tone quickly shifted as he recalled the era nearly 70 years ago when he first entered the film industry.
"Back then, Japanese cinema was in its golden age. TV wasn't widespread, audiences flocked to theaters, and film truly reigned as the king of entertainment. The industry was both prosperous and unhurried," he explained. However, he candidly added, "In contrast, filmmakers today really have it tough. Sometimes, I even feel a bit sorry for them."
via： TOKYO HEADLINE WEB