by LISA SPILLIAERT
Written by Lisa Spilliaert / From the novel N.P di Banana Yoshimoto / Photography Lisa Spilliaert / Editing Inneke Van Waeyenberghe, Lisa Spilliaert / Starring Clara Spilliaert, Mikiko Kawamura, Saartje Van de Steene and Hiroshi Miyamura / Produced by Escautville
Belgium 2020 / 62’
V.O. sub. ITA – ENG
first screening
During a summer in Japan, four young men unexpectedly realize that they have in common
the novel ‘N.P’ written by the late and mysterious
Sarao Takase. The
book is a collection of 98 autobiographical short stories written in English during the period Sarao Takase was living in the United States. Some years later, Shoji Toda, who was curious about the novel, started translating the book into Japanese, but he committed suicide and left the translation of the last story unfinished.
It will be precisely this mysterious 98th story, and the alleged curse hidden between the pages of the book, to motivate the protagonist, Kazami, to set off on her journey.
DIRECTOR
Lisa Spilliaertwas born in 1990 in Tokyo
and later moved to Gent, in Belgium, where she studied photography at the KASK & Conservatorium / School of Arts Gent. She currently lives in Gent.
In 2013 she directed her debut
short film ‘Hotel Red Shoes’
together with her sister Clara where she displays
her skill in working with both moving and fixed images. Her first feature film ‘N.P’, which will have its Italian premier at the 43rd edition of the Efebo d’Oro Prize, participated in the international competition FID Marseille in 2020 and was screened at the Berwick Film & Media Arts Festival (UK), Literatur Film Festival Münster (DE), Underdox Munchen (DE), Black Canvas Contemporary Film Festival (MX), and Singapore International Festival of Arts (SG).
© Helena Spring Films, 2020