Natsumi Nishiyama directs this heartfelt production that was named as the best film at the Eiga World Cup 2021, a Japanese competition for films produced by high school students. Being a highschooler herself, Nishiyama delivers a pure and tender story about the innocence of friendship and yearning. The well-received short film took a year to produce and was entirely financed by crowd funding.
Re;birth is screening at Japan Filmfest Hamburg
Natsumi, born 2003: her name literally means ‘Summer fruits'. The filmmaker immediately grabs our attention, brazenly indicating that ‘Re;birth' echoes her real-life experiences attending Chikushioka High School in Fukuoka Prefecture. Everything was going well for Natsumi until the summer of her 14th year, when a routine bike ride back from school leaves her heaving in agony. The diagnosis from the doctor confirms the worst: Natsumi is afflicted with a rarely heart condition called orthostatic dysregulation (OD), a strange illness that makes it impossible for sufferers to wake up early in the morning.
As she spirals deeper into OD, she gets embroiled into a cruel web of depression and faces ridicule for suffering from a ‘fake illness'. Nishiyama finds it impossible to attend lessons. But she still inches out her willpower to visit the school infirmary- a place where she first meets Hikaru. The girl who forgot how to smile. They don't speak or laugh but spend their loneliest times together. The simplest of gestures that ultimately saves Natsumi's life.
The plethoric usage of tone and colours in the cinematography of this twenty-minute presentation is commendable for someone so fresh to the movie-making scene such as director Natsumi. This is observed at the start of the film; its exuberance and cheerfulness exemplified in part by the choice of incorporating the scenic vibrancy of the Japanese mountains along with bright lighting. As the plot drifts into grim territory, the picture follows, with sepia-tinged imagery (like abandoned cardboard boxes) and gratuitous use of a sullen musical score.
Nanaka Kosho, who plays the lead character effectively rouses the many facets of the role to fruition, from the doe-eyedness of longing to the vulnerability of hopelessness. She shows respectable range and is one to look out for in future projects.
“Re;birth” lingers with you. It is a tale of affection and puppy love. An understated ‘cinematic self-help book' for young people everywhere. Fleeting and succinct, it drives the point across that even the slightest expression of concern can recalibrate someone's purpose in life and trigger a rebirth like that experienced by Natsumi. Hikaru became her Ikigai – a reason for living. At the end of the day, all we truly need is a little bit of tender loving care and we'll get through our darkest despair.
