Wife of A Spy Interviews

Dir. Kiyoshi Kurosawa

Q: It is a movie that can be discussed from the aspects of national and individual issues: universal justice and individual well-being, war perpetrator issues, etc. When I interviewed you a year ago, you said the following. Q: "I want to make a perfect entertainment movie someday, but I always do extra things." that you want to make a movie that most people can enjoy normally, but you always put experimental elements somewhere, and it becomes a movie that limits the audience.

Q: However, I think that this time you can finally make a perfect entertainment movie with great theme. 

A: Thanks. I believed that the structure of entertainment films such as suspense and soap opera should definitely hold, even with a heavy background and a serious theme. I don't see many in Japan, but there are many interesting movies overseas that have both theme and entertainment. However, I was in a lot of trouble with where to end. For eg, if the person runs away on a boat, that's all and it can be a fancy entertainment movie. However, here, we know what happened to Japan in this era after those events. For that matter, it can even be a movie that depicts something that leads to the present day. So I was quite worried about where to end.

Aoi Yu x Takahashi Issei

Q: Please tell us about "A movie of your heart".

Takahashi:  Ikiru (1952). For some reason, this work has been my favorite. I've always liked Takashi Shimura's acting. In Seven Samurai (1954), where Takashi Shimura runs with his sword is the most realistic and scary situation that he might get stabbed by swords. However, I feel Ikiru is the true value of Takashi Shimura, so if I have to choose one, this is it.

Aoi: Face (2000) directed by Junji Sakamoto and Gemini (1999) directed by Shinya Tsukamoto. These two and Picnic (1996) directed by Shunji Iwai are the original concept of movies for me. Also, Yoji Yamada's Tora-san, Wish You Were Here (2019). I'm so happy to see Tora-san at the movie theatre! I felt like I was able to meet my deceased grandpa (lol). I like all the 49 works in the Tora-san series, but it's special to be able to meet Tora-san again as new.