RED PERSIMMONS
Directed by: Shinsuke Ogawa & Xiaolian Peng.
Produced by: Kenkichi Sugano, Yoko Shiraishi & Yoshio Yasui.
Director of Photography: Masaki Tamura & Jong Lin.
Music by: Jomon Daiko.
Country of Origin: Japan. 90 min. Not Rated.

Watching Red Persimmons is like driving along a long straight road in Japan on a comfortably sunny day. It is a quiet, slow and uncomplicated journey. But as you ride on, you find yourself surprisingly at ease. And pertinent to the Japanese philosophy, the beauty of this film is only found where it cannot be seen.

Red Persimmons is a real-life portrayal of a slowly vanishing remote village in Yamagata, Japan. Life here is supported by the processing and trade of dried persimmons, a traditional snack. However, as modernization sets in, the market is decimated, as is the culture of this village. "But this is a natural process," says Shinsuke Ogawa, the late director, in his film. "And I felt the need to record this quietly disappearing Japanese culture."

Ogawa starts out by showing the peeling and drying of the persimmons, elaborating with anecdotes of how the tools used came to be. "My husband invented this notched knife for me because I kept cutting my thumb," says one old woman of the village, smiling as she recalls the memories of her beloved late husband. The notched knife and geared peeling machine are innovations made in this village, and the people proudly talk of their part in the change. After the persimmon is peeled and dried, it is bought by traders, packaged and sent to different regions in the country. It is a simple process, but each person who takes part in it has his or her own story to tell - the essence of the film that makes it uniquely interesting.

Throughout the film, the people's hidden love and devotion for persimmons, culture and tradition very delicately permeate the film. It is modestly seen in the hard-working hands, shy smiles, and sparkling eyes of these villagers. The film makes no strong statement, but living up to Ogawa's wish, it turns out to be an authentic depiction of a beautiful part of Japanese life. Hazuki Aikawa, journalist, director of the documentary Yancha
March 30, 2004