Ryusuke Hamaguchi, director of Oscar nominee movie “Drive My Car,” says he received power from Hiroshima, the city used as a filming location. The movie’s story is harmonized with the city’s history of restoration.
Feb. 10, 2022
by Yui Kihara, Staff Writer
On February 9, Ryusuke Hamaguchi, 43, director of the movie “Drive My Car,” which received a U.S. 94th Academy Award nomination in four categories including best picture, held an online press conference in Germany, where he is now staying to serve as a juror for the Berlin International Film Festival. Asked about Hiroshima where the movie was primarily set, Mr. Hamaguchi expressed his appreciation for the city, saying “Hiroshima was a wonderful filming location, giving me limitless power. I want to shoot a movie there again.” Local people who supported the filming are also excited by the nomination with widespread expectation for winning the Oscar.
In his movie, the protagonist (Hidetoshi Nishijima), an actor and theater producer, drives to Hiroshima, the venue of the international theater festival he works for, after losing his wife, and meets a woman (Toko Miura) who is hired as his chauffer. In addition to the best film category, the movie was nominated for directing, writing (adapted screenplay), and international feature film categories in Oscar. It was shot in some cities within the Hiroshima Prefecture such as Hiroshima, Higashihiroshima, and Kure from November to December in 2020.
During the press conference, Mr. Hamaguchi said, “In the movie, a man with mental scars finds hope while he stays in Hiroshima. I could feel that his such image was connected to spiritual atmosphere in Hiroshima, which had restored from damages by the atomic bombing.” He also added from his filming experience, “The landscapes in the Setouchi area and the light streaming to the streets were beautiful and have a unique power, too.”
Responding to the news of the Oscar nomination, people associated with Hiroshima’s filming locations were in a jubilant mood. One of them is the Yasu Community Center located in Hiroshima’s Asaminami Ward whose parking lot was used for shooting. Hisao Tamehisa, 60, an official in charge of social education at the center, still remembers that Mr. Hamaguchi spoke with tears in front of actors and staff after the shooting was completed and pledged he would finish the movie. Mr. Tamehisa was happy about the news and said, “I really hope his movie will win the Oscar from the bottom of my heart.”
Tami Maeda, 38, a movie director and actress living in Hiroshima, played a role as a female customer at a bar located in Hiroshima’s central area in the movie. Ms. Maeda said, “I am pleased I was able to be involved in the movie which has drawn attention globally. It will be a big favorable wind for producing movies in Hiroshima.” A crucial scene in which the protagonist’s inner face makes a change was filmed at Grand Prince Hotel Hiroshima in Minami Ward. Masashi Yumite, 45, the hotel’s assistant manager responsible for business strategy, said in a lilting voice, “We are encouraged by the good news coming in during the pandemic.”
The Academy Awards ceremony will take place in Los Angeles on March 27 (March 28 Japan time). Mr. Hamaguchi smilingly said, “The awards ceremony is a dream stage to me. It’s hard to imagine I am on that stage.”
(Originally published on February 10, 2022)
On February 9, Ryusuke Hamaguchi, 43, director of the movie “Drive My Car,” which received a U.S. 94th Academy Award nomination in four categories including best picture, held an online press conference in Germany, where he is now staying to serve as a juror for the Berlin International Film Festival. Asked about Hiroshima where the movie was primarily set, Mr. Hamaguchi expressed his appreciation for the city, saying “Hiroshima was a wonderful filming location, giving me limitless power. I want to shoot a movie there again.” Local people who supported the filming are also excited by the nomination with widespread expectation for winning the Oscar.
In his movie, the protagonist (Hidetoshi Nishijima), an actor and theater producer, drives to Hiroshima, the venue of the international theater festival he works for, after losing his wife, and meets a woman (Toko Miura) who is hired as his chauffer. In addition to the best film category, the movie was nominated for directing, writing (adapted screenplay), and international feature film categories in Oscar. It was shot in some cities within the Hiroshima Prefecture such as Hiroshima, Higashihiroshima, and Kure from November to December in 2020.
During the press conference, Mr. Hamaguchi said, “In the movie, a man with mental scars finds hope while he stays in Hiroshima. I could feel that his such image was connected to spiritual atmosphere in Hiroshima, which had restored from damages by the atomic bombing.” He also added from his filming experience, “The landscapes in the Setouchi area and the light streaming to the streets were beautiful and have a unique power, too.”
Responding to the news of the Oscar nomination, people associated with Hiroshima’s filming locations were in a jubilant mood. One of them is the Yasu Community Center located in Hiroshima’s Asaminami Ward whose parking lot was used for shooting. Hisao Tamehisa, 60, an official in charge of social education at the center, still remembers that Mr. Hamaguchi spoke with tears in front of actors and staff after the shooting was completed and pledged he would finish the movie. Mr. Tamehisa was happy about the news and said, “I really hope his movie will win the Oscar from the bottom of my heart.”
Tami Maeda, 38, a movie director and actress living in Hiroshima, played a role as a female customer at a bar located in Hiroshima’s central area in the movie. Ms. Maeda said, “I am pleased I was able to be involved in the movie which has drawn attention globally. It will be a big favorable wind for producing movies in Hiroshima.” A crucial scene in which the protagonist’s inner face makes a change was filmed at Grand Prince Hotel Hiroshima in Minami Ward. Masashi Yumite, 45, the hotel’s assistant manager responsible for business strategy, said in a lilting voice, “We are encouraged by the good news coming in during the pandemic.”
The Academy Awards ceremony will take place in Los Angeles on March 27 (March 28 Japan time). Mr. Hamaguchi smilingly said, “The awards ceremony is a dream stage to me. It’s hard to imagine I am on that stage.”
(Originally published on February 10, 2022)
