2K 4:3
Colour
Non spoken
Intertitles in English, French and Japanese
60"
In this silent film, set during one Japanese summer, four young people discover how one book unites them. All four are fascinated with the novel N.P by the late and mysterious Sarao Takase. The eponymous film N.P dissects the young characters’ complex web of relationships. How does a translation relate to the original? How does fiction relate to reality? And what is the nature of the often incestuous interaction between the protagonists?
The strikingly beautiful colours of the summer define the mood and atmosphere of the film, turning its complex, dark heart into a serene and glowing meditation on the young and on the influence of past experiences on one’s life.
Lisa Spilliaert grew up in Japan and Belgium. The personal dialogue between two cultures is a common thread in her photography and film work. For N.P, her debut of a feature film, Spilliaert opted to adapt the novel into a non-spoken film with intertitles. This allowed her to highlight the physical presence of the words. The verbal silence is countered by newly commissioned compositions by noise rock legends Wolf Eyes (US), sound artist Asuna (JP) and the eloquent synth pop of Stacks (BE).
The film was screened or exhibited at:
-
Avant-première: Beursschouwburg, Brussels (BE), 24 April 2019
-
World Première: FID Marseille (FR): International Competition, 24 > 26 July 2020
-
Berwick Film & Media Arts festival, Berwick-upon-Tweed (UK), 17 Sep > 11 Oct 2020
-
UNDERDOX, München (GE), openingsfilm, 8 Oct 2020
-
litfilms - Literatur Film Festival, Münster (DE), 10 Oct 2020
-
Black Canvas FCC, International Competition New Canvas, Mexico City (MX), 9 > 10 Oct 2020
-
Singabore International Festival of Arts: 14 >30 May 2021
-
Days of European Film, Praha (CZ), 20 juni 2021
-
Belgian Avant-premiére: De Cinema (Antwerp, BE): 27 juni 2021
-
Worm Rotterdam (NL): 1 September 2021
-
35th Image Forum Festival, Tokyo (JP): 26>30 Sept 2021
-
Belgian Première: Courtisane Festival - in collaboration with Art Cinema OFFoff (BE): 24 Oct 2021
-
SCANORAMA European Film Forum (LT): 6>14 Nov 2021
-
Efebo d’Oro - International Prize for Cinema and Narrative (IT): 16 November 2021
-
VCD Beijing (CN): 16 January 2022
-
Centre Wallonie-Bruxelles, Paris (FR) - Carte blanche à Hubert Colas, in collaboration with FID Marseille: 26 March 2022
-
Filmhuis CAVIA, Amsterdam (NL): 16 April 2022
-
Ciné Rio / De Koer, Ghent (BE): 21 April 2022
-
e-flux Film "Takeover" (online): OCT 2022
-
Cine Monde, Kanazawa (JP): 8 - 12 OCT 2022
-
Hotori Za, Toyama (JP): 8 - 14 OCT 2022
-
Image Forum, Tokyo (JP): 15 OCT - 4 NOV 2022
-
Nagoya Cinematheque, Nagoya (JP): 15 - 21 OCT 2022
-
Jack & Betty, Yokohama (JP): 21 - 28 OCT 2022
-
Cine Nouveau, Osaka (JP): 22 OCT - 4 NOV, 2022
-
Minami Kaikan, Kyoto (JP): 22 - 27 OCT 2022
-
De Cinema Antwerp (BE): 14 MAY 2023
Credits :
Based on the book N.P by Banana Yoshimoto, originally published in 1990 by Kadokawa Shoten Publishing Co., Ltd. in Japan. English translation first published in 1994 by Grove Press.
-
Director : Lisa Spilliaert
-
Translation, Dramaturgy : Sis Matthé
-
Sound Concept : Vincent Stroep
Main actors :
-
Kazami Kano : Clara Spilliaert
-
Sui Minowa : Mikiko Kawamura
-
Saki Takase : Saartje Vande Steene
-
Otohiko Takase : Hiroshi Miyamura
Crew in Japan :
-
Line Producer : Takehiko Kurokawa
-
Camera : Hiroshi Ashikaga
-
Drone, Assistant Camera : Takao Yoshimori
-
Gaffer : Hans Bruch Jr.
-
Assistant Gaffer : Mitsunori Sakano
Crew in Belgium :
-
Camera, Gaffer : Hans Bruch Jr.
-
Assistant Camera, Gaffer : Bert Savels
Post-production :
-
Subtitle Font, Title Design : Kyosuke Fujita
-
Sound design : Sen Studio
-
Foley : Olivier Thys
-
Final mix : Laszlo Umbreit
-
Editing : Inneke Van Waeyenberghe, Lisa Spilliaert
-
Soundtrack : Asuna, Wolf Eyes, Stacks
Thank You : Tokyo Vision, Crasco, Kanazawa Film Commission,
Toyama University of International Studies
With the Support of Flanders Audiovisual Fund, Arts Flanders Japan,
City of Ghent, Vidi-Square
Co-produced by : Argos, Beursschouwburg
Produced by Escautville