YUKI KAWAMURA

PEOPLEText: Yurie Hatano

Japanese film artist from Paris, Yuki Kawamura, who is releasing his first anthology DVD on November in EU, created SHIFT’s cover for this month. His work is invited as the special selection film at DOTMOV Festival 2005. He is one of the most spotlighted film artists in today’s industry.

Could you introduce yourself?

Hello, my name is Yuki Kawamura. I was born in Kyoto, Japan, 1979. I’ve moved to France in 2000, and I now live in Paris to make films.

Why did you start making films?

Well, I used to watch old European town on TV when I was small, and it made me feel sentimental for some reason, although I was only in preschool. ( Laugh) Then, I started having a dream about living in this imaginary town. When I was a teenager, I’ve watched so many French or Italian movies from 50’s and 60’s to find that dream town. I was more engrossed in different director’s different vision. Then I thought, if there was no such town, I should just create my own world with films. That’s how I started making films.

How did you start your carrier in Paris?

When I was 18, I seriously curious about the dream town, so I took a trip to France, Spain, and Italy. I actually couldn’t find anything like that town I imagined, but when I got to Paris, I felt some strange comfort. It wasn’t exactly my dream town, but it was a good place to make work, and also the country support for making films so I decided to go to a film school in Paris when I was 20. After the graduation, I settled in Paris, and started my carrier in film.

What do you think about the creative scene in Paris? What’s the difference between Japan and Paris?

The biggest difference is how people spend time for. People are not dependent on information, and able to have their own time in Paris. Also the art is always around the people (young or old), and everybody has their own opinion and talk about those arts. ( Sometimes I feel it’s too long though…) Because of these reasons, it is easier to be and see myself in Paris than in Japan. I think the French creative scene is supported by this people’s energy for the arts.

Could you tell me about the DVD which is releasing in November?

It is forgoing release only at Centre Pompidou in Paris in November. It will be releasing in Europe, the U.S., Japan, Hong Kong, and Taiwan in mid December. This DVD, titled “SLIDE”, includes 8 films and one bonus film, and is released by “LOWAVE” in France. The title “SLIDE” has my hope that people would be able to slide into a totally new world from another. We make every space with recognition on our eyes and brain. On the other hand, this DVD only has the poetic moments of pictures, which you can only see when you are conscious to see something. All the works on DVD are collaboration with the musician, Yoshihiro Hanno, except the bonus film. I think Mr.Hanno for making such a great music for my films. I got very good influenced by him from working together this time. I would love to work with him again.

Could you describe each work on the DVD?


BALLON
12 red balls spring from the ground into the air. They fall down, come to a stop and fade away  to show the beauty of gravity’s rythm.


SLIDE
Outlines of people turn as the people themselves walk into a light space. Everything is connected to each other. Material is transformed as spaces slide into other spaces and people become dust.


SCENE H
Running in a snow landscape. Images come and go as memory does.

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