[1998]

Oishi Apartments, Nishi-Tengachaya

(“Nishi-tengachaya, Oishi so”)
Director: TAKASHI Toshiko

1998 Japanese Subtitled in English Color Video 37 min

Production Company:
Producer: TAKASHI Toshiko
Photography: TAKASHI Toshiko
Editing: TAKASHI Toshiko
Music:
Sound: TAKASHI Toshiko		   International Sales: FUJIOKA, Asako
c/o YIDFF Office,
No.3 Yamada Bldg. 6fl., 22 Aizumicho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0005 JAPAN
Phone: 81-3-5362-0672
Fax: 81-3-5362-0670
E-mail: Asakof@tkd.att.ne.jp

[Festivals and prizes] Yamagata IDFF ’99

[Synopsis] A surprise reunion with a 70-year-old lesbian couple brings back memories.
The old apartment and two women residents are still there when the filmmaker visits her childhood home in Nishi-Tengachaya, after more than twenty years. Memories of her childhood return to her, as she begins to chat with the old women who have continued living in the old wooden dilapidating building over the years. She reflects on her own life and sexuality as the women welcome her in and talk about themselves. Shot on a consumer video camera almost entirely with no cuts, this is a raw slice of life with a touch of fatality. A record of the filmmaker’s wavering sensitive soul.


TAKASHI Toshiko

Born in Osaka, 1952. Assistant Director of Fukuda Katsuhiko’s Higashi-Kurume, a Living Town in 1990. Director of the Tokyo International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival in 1992 and 1993. Film and music critic for magazines. Made ode I and Oishi Apartments, Nishi-Tengachaya after working as cinematographer on some independent works. Her next film, ode II is currently in production.

• TAKASHI Toshiko | Oishi Apartments, Nishi-Tengachaya | Blessed