Retake
The summer holidays have only just begun when Kei wanders around with his camera in search of new motifs and is captivated by a humming voice. The voice soon turns out to be Kei's schoolmate Yu, who, lost in her own little world, sings and dances to herself. Before he knows it, he has already pulled out his camera and photographed his favourite subject again. Unlike usual, he is caught in the act. Yu insists on seeing the photos and when she discovers that Kei's camera can also be used for filming, she quickly enlists him in her latest project: she wants to make a film and Kei has just been appointed as her cameraman. Together with their friends, the two of them feel their way into the world of filmmaking and what begins as a playful project quickly develops into a journey full of self-discovery, intense emotions and profound decisions that tests not only their creativity but also their friendship.
Retake won the Grand Prize at the Pia Film Festival, Japan's largest and best-known festival for up-and-coming filmmakers for many years. The jury, whose prominent members included Yuya ISHII (The Asian Angel, 2021) and Kei ISHIKAWA (A Man, 2022), was particularly impressed by the non-linear structure that director Kōta NAKANO uses so effectively in the second part of his film. The award paved the way for him to the Tokyo Film Festival, the Beijing Film Festival, Japan Cuts in New York and Camera Japan in Holland, where the film was successfully screened everywhere.