简介：In1981filmdirectorNagisaOshima-the'NewWave'JapanesedirectorbestknowninthiscountryforfilmssuchasCruelStoryofYouth(1960),IntheRealmoftheSenses(1976),andMerryChristmas,Mr.Lawrence(1983)-traveledtotheYamagatacountrysidetovisitthedocumentaryfilmmakingcollectiveledbyShinsukeOgawa(1935-1992),whowastheninthemidstoffilmingAJapaneseVillage-Furuyashikimura,afeature-lengthdocumentarychroniclingtheseasonalcycleofricegrowing. Ogawa,whoproducedSummerinNarita(1968),PeasantsoftheSecondFortress(1971),andRedPersimmons(2004),givesOshimaabrieftouroftheirrurallocation,includingthericefieldstheyarecultivatingaswellasfilming,andintroductionstolocalvillagers.Theythensettledownforawide-rangingconversationaboutOgawaProductions'approachtodocumentaryfilmmaking-thatofself-styled"filmnomads"wholiveandworkforextendedperiodsoftimeinvariousregionsofthecountry-focusinginparticularontheircurrentproduction,whichinvolvesanintimateinteractionoveraperiodofseveralyearswithlocalfarmers,weatherconditions,theenvironment,andaspectsofvillagelife. AVISITTOOGAWAPRODUCTIONSthusoffersarareinsightintothesocialandcinematicphilosophyofoneofJapan'sbest-knowndocumentaryfilmcollectives.Asthefilmreveals,OgawaProductions'in-depthportraitsofJapanesesociety-whetherofprotestmovementsortraditionalagriculturallife-grewoutofanunusualcommitmenttointegratethemselveswiththecommunitiestheyfilmed,totheextentthattheirfilmmakingliterallybecameanalternativelifestyle.…