N.P
Directed by Lisa Spilliaert, produced by Escauville, 2K 4:3, 60min, non spoken, intertitles in English, French, and Japanese, sound & color, 2020.
In this silent film, set during one Japanese summer, four young people discover how one book unites them. All four are fascinated with the novel N.P by the late and mysterious Sarao Takase. The eponymous film N.P dissects the young characters’ complex web of relationships. How does a translation relate to the original? How does fiction relate to reality? And what is the nature of the often incestuous interaction between the protagonists?
The strikingly beautiful colors of the summer define the mood and atmosphere of the film, turning its complex, dark heart into a serene and glowing meditation on the young and on the influence of past experiences on one’s life.
Lisa Spilliaert grew up in Japan and Belgium. The personal dialogue between two cultures is a common thread in her photography and film work. For N.P, her debut of a feature film, Spilliaert opted to adapt the novel into a non-spoken film with intertitles. This allowed her to highlight the physical presence of the words. The verbal silence is countered by newly commissioned compositions by noise rock legends Wolf Eyes (US), sound artist Asuna (JP), and the eloquent synth-pop of Stacks (BE).
CREDITS
Based on the book N.P by Banana Yoshimoto, originally published in 1990 by Kadokawa Shoten Publishing Co., Ltd. in Japan. English translation was first published in 1994 by Grove Press.
Directed by Lisa Spilliaert
Translation, Dramaturgy : Sis Matthé
Sound Concept : Vincent Stroep
Main actors
Kazami Kano : Clara Spilliaert
Sui Minowa : Mikiko Kawamura
Saki Takase : Saartje Vande Steene
Otohiko Takase: Hiroshi Miyamura
Crew in Japan
Line Producer: Takehiko Kurokawa
Camera: Hiroshi Ashikaga
Drone, Assistant Camera: Takao Yoshimori
Gaffer: Hans Bruch Jr.
Assistant Gaffer: Mitsunori Sakano
Crew in Belgium
Camera, Gaffer : Hans Bruch Jr.
Assistant Camera, Gaffer : Bert Savels
Post-production
Subtitle Font, Title Design: Kyosuke Fujita
Sound design: Sen Studio
Foley: Olivier Thys
Final mix : Laszlo Umbreit
Editing : Inneke Van Waeyenberghe & Lisa Spilliaert
Post-production
Subtitle Font, Title Design: Kyosuke Fujita
Sound design : Sen Studio
Foley : Olivier Thys
Final mix : Laszlo Umbreit
Editing : Inneke Van Waeyenberghe, Lisa Spilliaert
Soundtrack : Asuna, Wolf Eyes, Stacks
Thank You: Tokyo Vision, Crasco, Kanazawa Film Commission, Toyama University of International Studies
With the Support of Flanders Audiovisual Fund, Arts Flanders Japan, City of Ghent, Vidi-Square
Co-produced by : Argos, Beursschouwburg
Produced by Escautville