広島国際映画祭 HIROSHIMA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

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2023/11/25

Exploring Notions of Family Through the Movie “FAMILIA”

On Friday, October 24, 2023, at 6:15 PM, the film "FAMILIA" was screened at Yokogawa Cinema.

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The protagonist of the story is Seiji Kamiya, a pottery craftsman living alone in a mountain. His son Gaku, a top-tier company's engineer who works in Algeria, returns to his father with his newlywed wife Nadia.

During their stay, the Kamiya family shelters Marcos, a young Brazilian man fleeing from a gang, leading to an interaction with the Brazilian community. However, the harassment from the gang intensifies, resulting in significant misfortune even for Gaku upon his return to Algeria.

Following the screening, a talk show was held featuring Mr. HORIE Yoshifumi, a board member of the Japan-Brazil Association in Hiroshima. The event was facilitated by Mr. KOMATSU Masayuki, who conducts immigration studies at the Graduate School of Integrated Arts and Sciences at Hiroshima University.

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The increase in the number of Japanese Brazilians living in Japan stemmed from a significant shift. It began with hyperinflation causing a rise in unemployment. Then, in 1990, amendments to Japan's Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act granted permanent residency rights to third-generation Japanese ancestry. This change served as a pivotal moment.

Aichi Prefecture experienced an influx of immigrants as home of Japan's leading car manufacturer which required a substantial workforce. However, due to layoffs resulting from the financial crisis of 2007–2008, they dispersed across the country for employment opportunities.

After the explanation, several questions arose from the audience. One inquiry was, "Are the lively parties depicted in the movie truly held in Brazil?" The response given was, "Those are indeed genuine Brazilian-style parties. However, sometimes things get a little out of hand, and it seems complaints might occasionally come from Japanese neighbors."

Furthermore, in response to the question, "Were there both successful and unsuccessful individuals who migrated to Brazil,?" it was answered, "Mrs. Akiko Koyama, the wife of film director Nagisa Oshima, mentioned that her uncle cultivated hemp in the Amazon and made a fortune by selling hemp bags for coffee beans."

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Finally, Mr. HORIE expressed, "Brazil is a melting pot of races. Because anyone born in Brazil can become Brazilian. However, that's not the case in Japan." Then, Mr. KOMATSU concluded by saying, "The movie title 'FAMILIA' means family. I'd like to believe that just like in the film, even strangers with different nationalities and upbringing can become family." With that, the talk show came to an end.

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