In 2009, theShort Shorts Film Festival & Asia 2010 and the Japan Tourism Agencysponsored a competition called “Let’s Travel Project” which encouragedfilmmakers to submit short films that show off the rich and diverse culturalattractions that Japan has to offer tourists. The 14 minute film Heaven’s Island(青春マンダラー/Seishun Mandala, 2010) directed by NaokoShimada was one of 13 films selected from 71 entries. The film features Taketomi Island in Okinawa.
Cousins Satoshi(Shuji Kashiwabara) and Miki (Rina Chinen) are heading back to Taketomi Islandfor the Mandala celebration in honour of their grandmother’s 97thbirthday. Upon their arrival, they learnthat their grandmother has died suddenly, throwing the plans for the Mandalafestival into chaos. At the memorial service, a recording of the late woman is played in which she embarrassesSatoshi and Miki by reacing out from beyond the grave to play interfering matchmaker with the two of them.
After thefuneral, Miki discovers her grandmother’s diary and reading it is shocked tolearn that the elderly woman was carrying on an affair with someone who hadleft the island and was due to return to for the Mandala celebration. Miki and Satoshi are determined to find out the man's identity. They narrow down their search to three possible candidates: Mr.Shigemori, Mr. Tomori, and Mr. Kinjo. Once the detective work begins, hilarity ensues.
Heaven’sIsland is a rip-roaring romantic comedy with a dash of detective story thrownin for good measure. Naoko Shimada is avery able director who sets a fast tempo for the comedy through her editing anduse of engaging, and often amusing, camera angles. The film does successfully show off Taketomias an appealing destination for travel, and does so without seeming like acommercial. The characters are endearing and the story amusing - the premise would be equally suitable material for a feature-length film. Check out the trailer here.
This film screened at Japan Week, Frankfurt am Main on November 5, 2011.
The event was sponsored by Nippon Connection:
