INDEX
Confronting True Feelings Amidst Information Overload: A Director in Her 20s
In the first half, we see Kana as a free-spirited and somewhat self-centered character, but she starts to experience mental turmoil as the story progresses. It might seem like a film addressing mental health issues…
Yamanaka: Kana isn’t explicitly written as having a mental health disorder. The doctor played by Ayumu Nakajima doesn’t provide a clear diagnosis either. I set Kana’s age at 21 to explore the dissonance between her feelings and behavior at that age. However, while I can recall my own experiences from that time, I find it difficult to understand what younger people today are thinking, as I’m now in my late twenties. So, I spoke with younger staff and Yuumi Kawai to gather their perspectives.
It seemed to me that, compared to my own experiences, younger people today seem to live with a sense of resignation. They’ve grown up during a prolonged recession and view having dreams or goals as a privilege, with a strong sense of ‘There’s no point in trying hard.’ This sentiment came across strongly in our conversations.
It seems that hope for the future is fading.
Yamanaka: Given the state of the world, it’s no surprise. The mood that Japan is heading towards decline is palpable, and it’s not just Japan—this sentiment is felt globally. In this environment, being suddenly thrust into society at around twenty and having to navigate a world saturated with immense amounts of information and material, you’re required to make daily choices on your own.
Looking back at my own experiences, life involves a constant stream of decisions, but I didn’t want to get bogged down by each one, so I ended up just ‘going through the motions.’ This approach eventually led me to lose sight of what I truly enjoyed. When the pandemic increased my idle time, I found myself at a loss about what to do.
Yamanaka: I look back and realize that neglecting to confront my true feelings and not dealing with them properly has led to my current confusion. Facing one’s genuine emotions can be draining, which often leads to putting them off. While it’s possible to reflect and think, “I didn’t like that at the time,” in the moment, it’s easy to gloss over those feelings. I think there’s a discrepancy and tension between our authentic selves and the personas we present to the world. This is something I aimed to portray in this work.
