So here I am back in my Tokyo hotel now fully-commissioned for a feature-length documentary co-production between BBC2 and NHK. It is a great opportunity to make a film of my choice with no brief.
But Japan presents my biggest challenge so far in making a film that gets under the skin of what is going on. This closed society is hard to crack, on my last trip 8 months ago I left never wanting to come back. But since then I have recharged my batteries and have been introduced to a character called Naoki who lives in Yamagata about 3 hours out of Tokyo.
Married 3 times, divorced 3 times he ran a bar called ‘Night Dew’ named after a famous shampoo brand here but after getting into a fight the former communist found himself in hospital for 3 months. His bar closed and now he rides a Honda 90cc everyday for the post office dreaming of re-opening his Night Dew bar. He lives with a woman half his age that used to drink at the bar. Naoki sounds like my kind of man.
Sean i saw Liberace of Baghdad last night for the second time – a truly great film. I love the fact that at the heart of your films you still have youthful inquisitiveness but most of all you demonstrate a love for people. Keep the vibes going and i’ll be looking forward to your next film. by the way say hello to Damien for me.
Stephen Folorunsho
I also watched your film ‘Liberace of Baghdad’ on the beeb last night and was totally absorbed with Samir. His plight to stay alive in this ripped apart country left me with total admiration for his stoicism and sense of humour amongst such devistation. Your real life on-the-ground documentary style film is the most compelling visual portrait about the daily life and death struggle of ordinary Iraqi people witnessed through the eyes of one man (and yourself with a camera), I have seen on the box for a long time, if ever!
my kind of men!
Hello, I watched your film, Liberace of Baghdad last night on BBC 2. I would like to congratulate you on a great piece of work, and for your courage at times. It was a very interesting and moving documentary. Your ability to deliver the stress and fears of everyday life onto the screen was powerful, and reminds us that the everyday news headlines that we read about the turmoil in Iraq at the moment isn’t just a headline.
I must say thank you to you and all of the journalists who strive to bring us these stories.
Rhodri
hi! my name is zan and i’m a journalist from malaysia. i read about you in a book written by maxine baker and did an internet search. although i have yet to watch any of your films, i’ve enjoyed reading the archives in your blog all this while. today, to my surprise, i noticed a new entry! congratulations and good luck on your new film!