CAMPAIGN (SENKYO)
AFS Documentary Tour | Screenings
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Filmmaker Kazuhiro Soda in attendance for Q&A
• Produced, directed, filmed, and edited by Kazuhiro Soda  “In the fall of 2005, 40-year-old, self-employed Kazuhiko "Yama-san" Yamauchi's peaceful, humdrum life was turned upside-down. Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) had suddenly chosen him as its official candidate to run for a vacant seat on the Kawasaki city council. Yama-san had zero experience in politics, no charisma, no supporters, no constituency, and no time to prepare for the impending election. The election was critical for the LDP. Yama-san's loss would automatically oust the LDP from its position as the dominant political party on the council. Thus, the LDP forms a strong campaign team consisting of every LDP politician from the Kawasaki region to fight the intense battle against the party's opponents-all veterans of the Democratic Party, the Communist Party, and the Kanagawa Network. The campaign team invites many of the LDP's political big shots-Nobuteru Ishihara, Yoriko Kawaguchi, and even Prime Minister Koizumi himself-to back its inexperienced candidate-a rare sight for an election in a politically insignificant suburban town. Adhering to the campaign tactic of "bowing to everybody, even to telephone poles," Yama-san visits local festivals, kindergarten sports events, senior gatherings, commuter train stations, and even bus stops to offer his hand to every one he sees. Can Yama-san win this heated race? Through its candid, cinema-verite style camerawork, this rare, detailed documentary of a Japanese election reveals the true nature of "democracy."” [Description from IMDB] |
February 13, 2008, 7pm Alamo Drafthouse @ the Ritz "First feature docu by Gotham-based filmmaker Kazuhiro Soda is a wry, fly-on-the-wall look at local politics, Japanese style -- and in particular, the mighty machine of the country's ruling Liberal Democratic Party. The result is an insightful, ironic portrait of campaigning at street level." - Derek Elley, Variety " CAMPAIGN (SENKYO) is a behind the scenes look at a political campaign that is uniquely Japanese, but also, somehow, UNIVERSAL. It's SMART, FUNNY and SUSPENSEFUL-- part Lost in Translation and part The War Room." - Marshall Curry, Oscar Nominated Director of STREET FIGHT Tickets are $4 to AFS members and $6 for the general public. Tickets may be purchased online until 3 p.m. on the day of the screening and picked up at AFS Will Call inside the theater. After 3 p.m. remaining tickets may be purchased at the theater (cash only). |