Oyu
France-Japan / Fiction / 21’ / 4K / Colour / 2023
It is the last day of the year and night falls on the small town of Toyama, Japan. A man goes to the public bath to retrieve a forgotten object. But once inside, the promise of a hot bath compels him to stay.
Director: Atsushi Hirai
Script: Martin Bertier, Atsushi Hirai
Director of Photography: Benoit Pain
Producer: Damien Manivel, Martin Bertier
Music: Jérôme Petit
Editing: Jehan Folqué
Sound: Gen Takahashi, Simon Apostolou, Agathe Poche
Cast: Okihiko Yoshizawa, Hisako Mizuki, Kota Tsunezawa, Satchiko Okuno
CV
Born in Toyama, Japan, Atsushi Hirai studied filmmaking in Tokyo and then in France, where he settled in 2015 and worked as an assistant director, especially on Damien Manivel’s films. His first film, “Return to Toyama”, was presented in international competition at the Locarno Film Festival. “Oyu” is his second film.
Filmography
2023 Oyu
2020 Retour à Toyama
2017 Déclic
Festivals Attended
Cannes Film Festival - Quinzaine des cinéastes (2023)
Donostia-San Sebastian Film Festival (2023)
Thess International Shorts Festival (2023)
Stockholm International Film Festival (2023)
Festival Nouveau Cinéma (2023)
International Kurzfilmtage Winterthur (2023)
Vilnius short film festival (2024)
BOGOSHORTS Bogotà Shorts Film Festival (2023)
Festival Séquence Court-métrage (2023)
Zubroffka International Film Festival (2023)
Awards
Retour à Toyama - Best Short Film – Japan Competition (2021)
Oyu – Jury Prize - ZubrOFFka Film Festival (2023)