From Gaza to Cannes: A journalist's story
A Gaza-based photojournalist who documented life under conflict was killed the day after the film she helped create was selected for the Cannes Film Festival. We look at what the journalist aimed to express.
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NHK
6 hours ago
- NHK
Harmony amid hostilities
More than three years of war between Russia and Ukraine have destroyed many friendships. But the gift of music can transcend borders and hostilities, as shown by a Russian pianist who continues to perform pieces by a Ukrainian composer with whom he has worked for decades. Russian pianist Alexey Lubimov has earned fans the world over for his virtuoso performances. The 80-year-old is a master of many styles, but lately, he has caused a stir by playing works of Ukrainian composer Valentin Silvestrov, 87. Russian pianist Alexey Lubimov spoke with NHK World before his Tokyo concert in April. The pair first met in 1968, when both Russia and Ukraine were part of the Soviet Union. Silvestrov would write pieces for Lubimov to play. The Russian says he was captivated by the Ukrainian's compositions: "For me, Silvestrov was the most gifted composer of all the young composers at the time. I watched and followed every transformation of his music style, from very avant-garde to very advanced." Ukrainian composer Valentin Silvestrov, left, and Lubimov have been part of the same music scene for nearly 60 years. An ultimatum The pair's longtime bond was put to the test in 2022, when their countries entered a full-scale conflict. Silvestrov fled Kyiv for Berlin. Soon afterwards, he told a German media outlet, "I don't want Russians to ever play my music again." Silvestrov's message in 2022 was aimed at all the Russian pianists with whom he had worked, including Lubimov. Lubimov told Silvestrov at the time that he understood his friend's feelings. "Silvestrov was so sad, so angry, that he forbade Russians to perform his music," the pianist recalls. Harmony transcending hostilities But Lubimov decided to keep Silvestrov's works on his set list. He held a concert in Moscow in 2022 condemning the invasion of Ukraine, and the event attracted the attention of the Russian police. Police officers in Moscow approached Lubimov as he performed a piece by Silvestrov in 2022. The police tried to stop the show, but Lubimov kept on playing. He was not detained, but the situation could have ended badly. Lubimov says the concert went ahead because "we had to continue Silvestrov's music so as not to forget it. We are not enemies to him or his music." When footage of the concert reached Silvestrov, he later told his Russian friend, "I am very happy. I am very proud of you." Silvestrov no longer bans his Russian friends from playing his compositions. Lubimov says he carries on doing so because so much is at stake. "Silvestrov is a messenger, and I am also a messenger for him. I try to transmit his message to the public, to the audience," he says. "It is not possible to express this message with words, but music can. It touches the hearts of people." Silvestrov's pieces were central to Lubimov's set list at his Tokyo concert in April. Lubimov began to experience vision trouble over the past few years, making it difficult for him to see the piano keys. He was once resigned to retiring due to these problems, but he says he changed his mind after Silvestrov's ultimatum led him to stage the peace concert in Moscow. Although Lubimov does not know how much longer he will be able to continue, he says he is determined to keep playing Silvestrov's music for as long as his mind and body allow.
The Mainichi
4 days ago
- The Mainichi
Japan project to nurture film creators unveiled in Cannes with director Kore-eda as judge
CANNES, France -- A Japanese visual media business has launched a project to encourage next-generation creators to produce original films with the aim of submitting the movies to prestigious international film festivals and winning awards. Director Hirokazu Kore-eda, who attended an announcement of the project near the main venue of the Cannes Film Festival in May, took part in judging submissions in the project's inaugural edition. He expressed his hopes that it would "develop not only Japanese films, but also expand to include young Asian filmmakers as candidates." The project was initiated by Imagica Group Inc., a company involved in the visual media business based in Minato Ward, Tokyo, as a gesture of gratitude to the industry on the group's 90th anniversary. The goal is to discover and nurture talented creators and provide them with opportunities to shine on a global stage. Imagica Group will solicit film proposals from companies under its wing and select one film annually to be produced. External creators can also apply if they collaborate with a producer from within the group. The project is set to continue for five years, with a budget cap of 70 million yen (about $500,000) for the first production. Kore-eda, who won the Cannes Festival's highest Palme d'Or in 2018 for his film "Shoplifters" and served as a competition jury member in 2024, welcomed the new project as a long-awaited development. "While national support is important for introducing new Japanese talent overseas, I've always felt that the angle of discovering and nurturing new talent from within the industry has been weak," he said, adding that it would be wonderful if the project continued for 10 or 15 years and supported Asian filmmakers. Other judges include Tokyo International Film Festival Programming Director Shozo Ichiyama. He explained that in Japan, raising funds for film production is difficult without popular source material like novels or manga. "There is great significance in supporting projects based on original screenplays. After reading the submitted scripts, I realized that there are many talented young directors out there," he said delightedly. Yuka Sakano, executive director of the Kawakita Memorial Film Institute, remarked, "I've never heard of a private company supporting a project on this scale. It's innovative." The first project unanimously selected by the three judges from among 88 initial submissions was "Maria," written by Tomoka Terada, 31, who reflected her experience as a social worker in the screenplay. The story follows an 18-year-old girl, Maria, working as a caregiver in Japan, who turns to crime to fund an abortion for her unwanted pregnancy. Terada explained, "The background of the story includes various issues facing modern Japanese society, such as inequality, poverty, the harsh working conditions of care workers, and gender discrimination." Despite its serious themes, the production is described as having a comedic tone, portraying a protagonist who lives with humor and strength. Raised by a single mother working in caregiving, Terada also chose to work in the welfare field, supporting homeless individuals and women who had suffered sexual abuse. She had a passion for writing and a desire to engage in creative expression. During the COVID-19 pandemic, as more clients faced financial difficulties and she struggled to find the time to deal with each one, she watched films. She found they could intricately depict the life of individuals beyond systemic constraints, and that led her to pursue filmmaking. While continuing her work, she has been learning about how to make movies and will be directing for the first time in this project. Visiting the Cannes Film Festival in May, Terada stated, "I thought this was a very distant world, so I am deeply honored to have the opportunity to speak here. I feel that the festival tends to select films that stand with people in difficult situations and strongly convey social messages even from a small-scale perspective. I would be delighted if my work is chosen someday." Hana Tsuchikawa, 31, who is from the same generation as Terada, is working as a producer on "Maria." "I was moved by the story's realism and the warmth of its worldview. I feel a strong connection with Terada as we are the same age, the same gender, and both are taking on the challenge of directing and producing for the first time," she noted. Director Kore-eda praised Terada's screenplay, saying, " It is down-to-earth and depicts universal human beings." He said with a smile, "It was by far the best, and if the other judges hadn't supported it, I was considering producing it at my company."
NHK
11-06-2025
- NHK
Okinawan photojournalist's lens on Vietnam
An 87-year-old Okinawa photojournalist who covered the Vietnam War returns to meet people whose portraits he captured.
