Rei Yoshida (玲): "Mr. Obayashi was always overflowing with love and he gave me hugs every time after the shooting”
AMG EntertainmentCLAPPER: Congratulations on finishing school! How have you found juggling the experience as an actress with your education?
REI YOSHIDA: The shooting was during the summer break, so it did not affect much on my study. As a result, I did not have the summer break at all, it was great experience for me. .
吉田零: 夏休み中に映画の撮影があったので、勉強面はあまり大変ではありませんでした。夏休みはほとんど無くなってしまいましたが、忘れられない夏休みの思い出になりました。
At such a young age, you showcase an incredible amount of range and skill in your role, have you always wanted to act?
I started musical in a local theatrical company when I was 5 years old, and I am supporting even after I got retired. Since childhood, I have dreamed working in something related to a musical that I experienced. As for my performance, I have been always studying for what's best, but I am so happy you gave me such high esteem..
私は５歳から地元の劇団でミュージカルを習っていて、今もOGとしてお手伝いをしています。小さい時から、大好きなミュージカルを生かした仕事に就きたいとは思っていました。演技については手探りでやっており、高く評価して頂いて嬉しいです。
Labyrinth of Cinema is your acting debut on the cinema screen, did you audition for this role and if so, what was the process like?
When I was in junior high, I joined the musical movie Whereabouts of neighbors. Mr .Obayashi happened to watch it and he remembered me when he cast the role. I had an interview with him and I got the role.
中学生の時に『隣人のゆくえ』という映画に参加しました。大林監督はその映画をご覧になっていて、『海辺の映画館』のヒロインを決める際に、私のことを思い出してくださったそうです。後日監督に会いに行き、出演することが決まりました。
You not only sing and act in your debut but also tap dance in your role as Noriko, which element did you prefer? Were you nervous at all with this undertaking?
Tap dance was my first challenge, but I pretty much enjoyed the lessons and shooting. I still remember how to tap and I feel like tap dancing sometimes.
タップダンスは初挑戦でしたが、練習から撮影までとても楽しかったです。今でも振りを覚えていて、たまに踊りたくなります！
Labyrinth of Cinema covers the history of War in Japan. How much did you learn on-set and throughout the experience of filming of these important time periods?
I could learn a lot of things that are not written in history text books. What I was shocked mostly is that soldiers kill even on same side sometimes due to the different ways of thinking.
教科書には書かれていない事実を沢山学べました。戦時中では、考え方の違いにより、味方にも簡単に殺されてしまうことを知り、衝撃を受けました。
Speaking of locations, the film is set in three periods of war with a different aesthetic and sombre mood in each – which did you find the most challenging to perform?
The hardest part of the shooting was the sequence of the troop of ”Joshitai" (Young girsl troop). The Naginata (Pole Sword) was taller than me and heavy, so it was really a challenge for me to handle and perform with it.
戊辰戦争に出てくる娘子隊のシーンはとても大変でした。薙刀は私の身長より長く、そしてとても重たいので、振り回すことに必死でした。そこに演技をプラスしないといけなかったので、苦労しました。
Labyrinth of Cinema is sadly the last film to be directed by genius, avant-garde filmmaker Nobuhiko Obayashi; what was it like to work with the infamous icon of Japanese cinema in your debut?
I feel so happy that I could participate in the production as I had been interested in movie production. He is always overflowing with love and he gave me hugs every time after the shooting. He kindly taught me A to Z of movie production, and I feel I could have great experience.
.私は以前から映画制作にとても興味を持っていたので、こういう形で参加出来てとても嬉しかったです。監督はとても愛に溢れた方で、毎日撮影終わりにハグをしてくださいました。また、何も知らない私に一から教えてくださって、誰もが体験出来ないことをさせてくださいました。
How much did Nobuhiko Obayashi influence you with your performance and as a person off-set?
I felt great achievement as a team when it's cranked up. It was such precious time working with the staff and cast trying to find the best way for every sequences, so that I felt so happy when Mr. Obayashi praised.
監督に褒められた時はとても嬉しく、スタッフ・キャストみんなで試行錯誤しながら映画を作ることで、クランクアップの日には今までにない達成感を感じました。映画づくりの楽しさを学んで、女優の道に進みたい！と更に強く思うようになりました。
Obayashi uses a very unique and visually colourful aesthetic on each of his films, how did you find the process of this on set?
There were so many changes of performance and dialogues from the script during the shooting as Mr. Obayashi got the ideas and changes instantly even in shooting. When I screened the finished one, it was first time for me to understand the context for many sequences. That's all about Mr. Obayashi's world.
監督は思いついたことは実践される方で、撮影時は変更されることが多くありました。仕上がった作品を見てはじめて理解出来たところも多く、これこそが大林ワールドなんだなと思っていました。
Hopefully, this is just the start of an illustrious career for Rei Yoshida as an actress, do you have any future projects coming up?
I look forward to an offer at any time.
オファー待ってます!
Labyrinth of Cinema premiered at the International Film Festival Rotterdam and is currently awaiting international release. Read CLAPPER’s review.
