Shunji Iwai's 'Kyrie' shows personal side of Tohoku earthquake

Japanese director Shunji Iwai's new film "Kyrie" explores the aftermath of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami through the perspective of a young girl named Kyrie. The film follows her journey, reuniting with a childhood friend along the way.

Director Shunji Iwai [MEDIA CASTLE]

Legendary Japanese director Shunji Iwai, who directed the mega-hit “Love Letter” (1995), is back with a new film “Kyrie,” which tells about the aftermath of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. Shown through the perspective of a near-mute young girl who goes on a busking trip throughout Japan, “Kyrie” is Iwai’s most personal project yet.

“I was born and raised in the neighborhood hit hardest by the 2011 earthquake, and I have worked on the rehabilitation projects and made documentaries about the disaster,” Iwai said during a group interview with Korean reporters at a cafe in Jung District, central Seoul, on Nov. 3. “I felt that the whole country of Japan was deeply hurt by the earthquake and tsunami. I spent a lot of time reflecting on what happened and the aftermath that the disaster has had on people.”

In “Kyrie,” a young girl named Luca, but who calls herself Kyrie, is homeless and makes ends meet through busking. She reunites with a childhood friend, Ikko, who becomes her manager, and the film follows the two over a span of 13 years as they travel around Japan. Kyrie lost her family and home during the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, and suffers lasting trauma because of this.

“There was an actual person like Kyrie in real life,” Iwai said. “I heard about a woman who had an impairment like Kyrie, who couldn’t see, who traveled around the country and performed. People were mesmerized by her performances. That is where I got the idea for the film.”

A scene from ″Kyrie,″ director Shunji Iwai's new film about a girl who is near-mute who goes busking with her childhood friend across Japan [MEDIA CASTLE]

Regarding the ending of “Kyrie,” in which Iwai chose to show the everyday life of the characters instead of giving a dramatic ending, the director said that the message he wanted to relay was that the path that you walk now should be the most important.

“I could have made the characters achieve mainstream success or overcome their trauma, but I thought that would be unrealistic,” Iwai said. “I wanted the audience to feel that the everyday life of these characters was just as special and that we should all try to live in the now.”

Singer Aina The End plays Kyrie in the film, and Iwai praised the singer-turned-actor’s performance.

“I was 100 percent satisfied with Aina’s acting, and I think that if we think about the potential and possibilities she possesses, she has more than a 1,000 percent-worth to show us,” Iwai said.

On the success of his 1995 film “Love Letter,” which, before the massive successes of “The First Slam Dunk” and “Suzume” last year, was the highest-grossing Japanese film in Korea to date, Iwai expressed gratitude and awe at his own accomplishment.

A scene from ″Kyrie″ [MEDIA CASTLE]

“It has been nearly 30 years since the release of ‘Love Letter,’ and I am eternally thankful for the Korean audience who has relentlessly loved my films and supported me,” Iwai said. “Looking back on my own life, I feel that ‘Love Letter’ was a miracle for me.”

Iwai further complemented the “voracity” of the Korean film industry and expressed his hope to work with Korean directors and actors — not least of all, BTS.

“I think the Korean film industry is very energetic and is on another level,” Iwai said. “I have worked with Doona Bae for a short film in the past, but I would also like to have the chance to work with her in a feature film, if possible. And K-pop is receiving so much attention these days. When I look at the music videos from groups such as BTS, I am always left in amazement. I started out as a music video director myself, and would like to work with them if the chance ever arises.”

BY LIM JEONG-WON [lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr]