Eiga Arts scandal

[Asako]

The incidents surrounding Joss Winn's Japanese Video Activism screening
in Saga were utterly appalling. 

Working with a documentary film festival based in Tokyo, and in close
contact with the video activists whose films Joss showed, I can see how
the "atmosphere" surrounding media activism or political art here in my
surroundings in Tokyo could be called "tako-tsubo"--octopus jars
(traditional traps for catching octopus, closed jars with small mouths,
once you're in,  you can't get out). We just don't know what the Real
Japan is like. 

Judging from the (comparatively) liberal political and social standing
of people around me working in the media, I think they would also be
shocked to hear about the events in Saga. 

With Joss's consent, I'd like to translate his posting into Japanese and
get some discussions going on other (Japanese language) mailing lists
like People's Media Network. I admit a lot of the so-called "freedom of
lifestyle" and "freedom of expression" here in urban Tokyo has a lot to
do with apathy, rather than real support of people's rights. But at
least here, holding a screening of documentaries won't threaten one's
job. (I think.) 

I'd also like to mention the trouble the documentary "A" has been
through in getting screenings set up around the country. "A" is a film
about the aftermaths of the Aum Shinrikyo after the poison gas attack
happened and all the leaders were arrested. It's basically a "seishun
eiga" about the Aum deputy spokesperson (28 years), though it raises
issues about the brutality of media coverage and Japanese police
desperate to make arrests. 

After received warmly at the International Forum at Berlin Film
Festival, the film played in mini-theaters in a few major cities, as it
was considered "cinema." But it did not really made the traditional
jishu-joei circuit, I judge, due to the subject matter. I heard some of
the groups refused to even preview the tape to consider showing. "Aum is
evil" and no film about Aum, unless critical, should be shown in the
local chiiki center.  

I send my respect and moral support to Joss and his great work in Saga,
and interpret this incident as a moral to myself and (especially
non-japanese people?) who tend to associate with urban inteli... 


Fujioka, Asako 
Tokyo