| Suzaku | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Naomi Kawase |
| Produced by | Takenori Sentō Kōji Kobayashi Yasushi Tsuge |
| Screenplay by | Naomi Kawase |
| Starring | Jun Kunimura Machiko Ono |
| Music by | Masamichi Shigeno |
| Cinematography | Masaki Tamura |
| Editing by | Shūichi Kakesu |
| Studio | WOWOW Bandai Visual |
| Release date(s) | 1 November 1997 |
| Running time | 95 min |
| Country | Japan |
| Language | Japanese |
Suzaku (萌の朱雀 Moe no Suzaku) is a Japanese fiction film from 1997 directed by Naomi Kawase.[1]
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Set in the mountainous Nishiyoshino region of Nara Prefecture, the film sketches the dissolution of a family suffering from the economic decline of their village. A vital railroad project was to have been constructed, employing the father of the family, but it was cancelled.
Suzaku was the 35mm film debut of Kawase, who was known for her independently produced films in 8mm.[2] A reference to her previous career can be seen in Suzaku through the 8mm film projected at the end. The only professional actor in the production was Jun Kunimura, although this became the debut of Machiko Ono, who later went on to a successful acting career.
Suzaku was selected for the Directors' Fortnight at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival and won the Caméra d'Or (best new film) at the Festival.[3] It also won the FIPRESCI Award at the 1997 International Film Festival Rotterdam.[4] Machiko Ono won the best actress award at the Singapore Film Festival for her role.[5]
Kawase herself wrote a novelization of the film under the same title.[6]