CPH:DOX 2020 - Being Eriko
Jannik Splidsboel's documentary, Being Eriko, following the Japanese pianist Eriko Makimura’s, tours, daily life, interests, friendships, her relationship with her parents and ultimate bittersweet connection with the world of music and performing arts is an extremely vivid and powerful portrayal of an artist that feels more authentic and raw in comparison to similar documentaries for other artistic personas.
The major strength of this documentary is that it doesn't sugarcoat any of Makimura's experience, as every qualm, breakdown and all sombre thoughts of the famed pianist are put forth, in an unabridged and unashamed look into the reality of the performers. Their lives are generally judged by the public, through an idealistic and often delusional filter that examines the aspects of one's personality based on the quality of their performances. Performance good – the person is good, performance average – the person is average. This is the central notion the documentary challenges the most. By recording her day-to-day life – Makimura cries and laughs with her friends, gets exhausted, drives with her mother, spends a picnic with her family and hops like a little child when she finds a "better-than-expected" stage for her performance and combining them with the pianist's actual performances and the diverse responses, ranging from congratulatory to downright toxic – Splidsboel provides the viewer with a character study which feels natural. In a way, the film deconstructs the person that is Eriko Makimura to her simplest characteristics and lets the viewer see her for the person she actually is.
To achieve emotional response, Splidsboel never uses fantastical camerawork or engages in elaborate editing, and keeps the recording process minimalist to replicate a simpler experience that compliments the intent of the film. Even background music is hardly ever-present, and it is usually from Makimura's performances to further emphasise the type of life the artist leads; it surely lacks the lustre that is correlated with the prestige of the artists in discussion.
With that said, happiness and smiles aren't alien to this feature. As sombre and depressing things can get at times, the film is never too indulgent in them; sweet moments of comfort and fun arrive in the same quantity as that of discomforts and depression, and allow viewers to experience and analyse the change in moments in a comprehensive and personal manner.
If there is one minor qualm to have about the feature, it is the repetition of information at the end. Three people, who have already appeared significantly in the documentary, are provided with textual information stating their name and relationship to Makimura, despite already doing so beforehand, during their initial introduction. This, however, only makes for a slight interruption into what is otherwise an emotionally engaging experience. Throughout its seventy minutes, Being Eriko is able to provide much more depth into the presentation of its subject and themes than its small runtime might initially suggest.