Quote:
That even within a dramaturgically relevant omission of the massive cinematic correspondence between Yamada and the painter Yamazaki Mikio, known as OFUKU (Film Letter) I-V (1986-2006), Yamada redefines his syntax for his travel films from the first half of the 1990s. His films become increasingly interwoven: the continuity of a body of work can actually be experienced here, even if it no longer seems desirable in modern times.

There are a total of five correspondence works between Isamu Yamada and me. I decided to upload the fourth one to YouTube this time. I don’t know why, but I occasionally receive emails from people overseas, and this is the only one I’ve received requests for, “Filmletter★oufuku IV.” That’s why I uploaded it.

Now, this “IV” was when both Yamada and I were living in Tokyo and we were holding monthly screenings at La Camera in Nogizaka. The screenings were held over three days, so we saw each other four days a month, including meetings to plan the screening program.

The sense of distance between Sapporo and Tokyo that existed when “Filmleter★Oufuku” first began has disappeared, and perhaps this is what gave birth to the sharpness of the work, which cuts into the hearts of both parties.

Yamada responded confidently to the fictional developments I set up. I think this gives the story a flavor not found in Yamada’s solo works. It’s also fair to say that I’m bringing out the Terayama Shuji taste that’s been ingrained in Yamada.

Now, unlike the first “Oufuku” film, there is no “taking pictures of each other,” but there is a part where I film Yamada. It is dark and Yamada’s face is not clearly visible, but it is the part where the English subtitles say “BAR YAMAVICA.” At the time, Yamada was the bartender about a seven-minute walk from Nakai Station on the Seibu Shinjuku Line, and I was a frequent customer there, so this is the footage I filmed one day.

There is also a glimpse of a drink on the menu there called “Neko-jaws.” This is a hazy sake that I made myself, and it was a popular menu item at the bar. For those overseas, in Japan, it is prohibited for individuals to make alcohol on their own, as this is considered “tax evasion.” However, at the time, I was making alcohol on my own and selling it at Yamada’s bar, which was illegal. It was bootlegging.

And, both Yamada and I have been making film on 8mm that don’t make any money, but I want to comment here that there is a desire to “share the pleasure of bootlegging.” What do you think? Let’s all try bootlegging.

FIlmletter oufuku IV_Yamazaki Mikio & Yamada Isao.mkv

General
Container:  	Matroska
Runtime: 	58 min 42 s
Size: 	630 MiB
Video
Codec: 	h264
Resolution: 	1280x720 
Aspect ratio:  	16:9
Frame rate: 	30.000 fps
Bit rate: 	1 236 kb/s
BPP: 	0.045
Audio
#1:  	2.0ch AAC LC @ 265 kb/s

https://nitro.download/view/1CD723F1872DD47/FIlmletter_oufuku_IV_Yamazaki_Mikio_&_Yamada_Isao.mkv

Language(s):Japanese
Subtitles:English (hardcoded)

The post Isao Yamada & Mikio Yamazaki – Filmletter oufuku IV AKA Filmletter Round Trip IV (1999) first appeared on Cinema of the World.

Film of Simon Fisher Turner’s new album, Instability of The Signal, directed by Japanese filmmaker Isao Yamada.

Instability of the Signal [Album Film].1080p.WEB-DL-Threnodyy.mkv

General
Container:  	Matroska
Runtime: 	43 min 1 s
Size: 	1 005 MiB
Video
Codec: 	h264
Resolution: 	1440x1080 
Aspect ratio:  	4:3
Frame rate: 	25.000 fps
Bit rate: 	3 135 kb/s
BPP: 	0.081
Audio
#1:  	English 2.0ch AAC LC @ 128 kb/s

https://nitro.download/view/A78460E9676388E/Instability_of_the_Signal__Album_Film_.1080p.WEB-DL-Threnodyy.mkv

Language(s):English
Subtitles:None

The post Isao Yamada – Instability of the Signal (2024) first appeared on Cinema of the World.

Fragile the image reflected in the mirror and on the snowy surface. But sweet is the naive force that reweaves it in every way, tirelessly searching for it.

Boeotia no yamaneko (Lynx reel) - Isao Yamada (1987).mkv

General
Container:  	Matroska
Runtime: 	15 min 13 s
Size: 	271 MiB
Video
Codec: 	x264
Resolution: 	540x480 ~> 640x480
Aspect ratio:  	4:3
Frame rate: 	29.970 fps
Bit rate: 	2 300 kb/s
BPP: 	0.296
Audio
#1:  	Japanese 2.0ch AC-3 @ 192 kb/s (Stereo)

https://nitro.download/view/FBF1F6E4E53C0F4/Boeotia_no_yamaneko_(Lynx_reel)_-_Isao_Yamada_(1987).mkv

Language(s):None
Subtitles:None

The post Isao Yamada – Beoetia no yamaneko aka Lynx Reel (1987) first appeared on Cinema of the World.

Synopsis:
A fantasy story based on the relationship between Kenji Miyazawa and his younger sister Toshi. This is the first 35mm film written and directed by Isao Yamada, who has created a unique world with his 8mm and 16mm short films. Tomohiro Aso is in charge of photography, and Simon Turner of “The Garden” is in charge of the music.

Ammonites were a kind of snail-like precursor to today’s mollusks, common in the seas of the Cretaceous period, many millions of years ago. They are among the most commonly found fossils, so they must have been extremely plentiful. In this meditative and largely unstructured first feature, a young geologist is traveling by train to visit his sister in the countryside after having received a disturbing and mysterious letter from her. As he travels, he remembers his childhood fixation with rocks, nurtured by his mother, and his very strong affection for his sister.

https://nitro.download/view/6FBEB894F88EAE6/Ive_Heard_the_Ammonite_Murmur.m2ts
https://nitro.download/view/A05DFDD0724B037/I’ve_Heard_the_Ammonite_Murmur.srt

Language(s):Japanese
Subtitles:English

The post Isao Yamada – Anmonaito no sasayaki wo kiita AKA I’ve Heard the Ammonite Murmur (1992) (HD) first appeared on Cinema of the World.

Synopsis:
A fantasy story based on the relationship between Kenji Miyazawa and his younger sister Toshi. This is the first 35mm film written and directed by Isao Yamada, who has created a unique world with his 8mm and 16mm short films. Tomohiro Aso is in charge of photography, and Simon Turner of “The Garden” is in charge of the music.

Ammonites were a kind of snail-like precursor to today’s mollusks, common in the seas of the Cretaceous period, many millions of years ago. They are among the most commonly found fossils, so they must have been extremely plentiful. In this meditative and largely unstructured first feature, a young geologist is traveling by train to visit his sister in the countryside after having received a disturbing and mysterious letter from her. As he travels, he remembers his childhood fixation with rocks, nurtured by his mother, and his very strong affection for his sister.

Anmonaito no sasayaki wo kiita (1992).mp4

Format                                   : MPEG-4
File size                                : 1 003 MiB
Duration                                 : 1 h 10 min
Video
Format                                   : AVC
Width                                    : 852 pixels
Height                                   : 512 pixels
Bit rate                                 : 1 798 kb/s
Audio
Format                                   : AAC LC
Codec ID                                 : mp4a-40-2
Bit rate                                 : 192 kb/s
Channel(s)                               : 2 channels
Channel layout                           : L R
Frame rate                               : 46.875 FPS (1024 SPF)

https://nitro.download/view/5F313DFEAE49F06/Anmonaito_no_sasayaki_wo_kiita_(1992).mp4

Language(s):Japanese
Subtitles:None

Many Thanks to Dunkelchambre..

The post Isao Yamada – Anmonaito no sasayaki wo kiita AKA I’ve Heard the Ammonite Murmur (1992) first appeared on Cinema of the World.

As the international title implies, the film’s plot revolves around a man’s personal journey. Jôhatsu tabinikki is intended to be an adaptation of an essay of the same title by the acclaimed underground manga artist, Yoshiharu Tsuge. The influence of Shuji Terayama is also discernible and it is no surprise that the director, Isao Yamada, worked with Terayama early on in his creative life.

Quote:
From the director’s website:

Isao Yamada(1952-) is Japanese film director, graphic artist, and manga author.

Started his artistic career by working at Shuji Terayama’s theatre company, Tenjousajiki. In 1974, he was appointed as an artistic crew for Terayama’s feature-film, Denen ni Shisu (Pastoral: To Die in the Country). He also worked for Terayama’s Boxer (1977), Kusameikyu (Grass Labyrinth, 1979), Saraba Hakobune (Farewell to the Ark, 1982).

As a film director, Yamada’s recent release includes Anmonaito no sasayaki wo kiita (I’ve heard the ammonite’s murmur:1992), Jouhatsu Tabinikki (The Soul Odyssey: 2003) based on the essay by Yoshiharu Tsuge, the feature-length Shutorumu undo Doranku (Sturm und Drang, 2013), His work has been featured at film festivals in Japan and abroad, including Cannes, Oberhausen and Stockholm Film Festival. He has been recognized for his art films since 1977 and has made more than one hundred film poetry works until today. Still mostly working with Super 8, the collection of his art films are called “Yamavocascope”. His films are characterised by their intentional focus on non-digital optical sensation. Given the sensually aesthetic treatment of subtlety and tranquillity, his films often float between reality and dream.

In addition to his work in cinema, Yamada is also known for his work in manga, painting and graphic design. His manga includes Tawamure (à la folie; 2008), Shiroi Yume (White Dream: 2019), and a graphical art series of Ningyo (Siréne: 2013) in micro-pen-work. His calligraphic font is known as ‘Yamada-Moji’ which has been appointed for a number of publications, boutique logos and advertisement posters.
​
Books about him and his works include Yume no Fiirudo (Field of Dreams: 1992), Hoshino Fragumento (Fragmentation of Star: 2003), Yamavica Uchuu-gaku (Yamavica Cosmology: 2014, 2015).

1.17GB | 1h 23m | 716×478 | mkv

https://nitro.download/view/7762CC27E51974C/Johatsu.tabinikki.AKA.The.Soul.Odyssey.2003.dvdrip.x264.ac3._jnsz_.mkv

Language:Japanese
Subtitles:English soft,Spanish soft

The post Isao Yamada – Jôhatsu tabinikki AKA The Soul Odyssey (2003) first appeared on Cinema of the World.

Why do people wave their hands when they say goodbye? We embark on a dreamlike journey from Borges’ ‘The Circular Ruins’. Filmed in 16mm by filmmaker, graphic artist and manga author Isao Yamada. Co-produced by Yumekichi Minatoya and starring Hiroko Ishimaru.

115MB | 14m 37s | 640×480 | mkv

https://nitro.download/view/1F0C941ADA3F5F9/Lynx_Reel_(Isao_Yamada,_1987).mkv

Language:No dialogue
Subtitles:None

The post Isao Yamada – Lynx Reel (1987) first appeared on Cinema of the World.