Intimacy 2012

Young lovers and theater partners work together to write and direct a new work. Unfortunately, old knots remain unresolved and new differences emerge. She longs for communication, but he keeps his heart closed. The two are like two trains traveling side by side, heading in the same direction but always at a distance, parting ways at any time. During the rehearsal period, the war was about to break out. The actors held different positions and friction suddenly broke out. The performance faced a major crisis. Hamaguchi Ryusuke's first attempt at a lengthy film, co-created with the drama school students he teaches, explores the complex aspects of interpersonal relationships through dense dialogue and poetry. It is full of elements from future masterpieces such as "Happy Days" and "Drive My Car". The first half of the film fictionalizes the creation and rehearsal process, while the second half brings a real-life stage play performance. The previous and following chapters blend the virtual and the real, patiently creating a sense of daily life and showing Hamaguchi's creative trajectory. The film compares language to a train carrying imagination, stopping at various stations to connect estranged individuals; the profound dialogue runs through street walks and theater time, revealing the tenderness, estrangement and contradictions in intimate relationships. The 17-minute long conversation shot from dark night to dawn further demonstrates the director's talent.