Ichiro Sueoka
2021Now living as a film maker in Tokyo and co-founder of the "Film-Makers' Information Center (FMIC)" experimental film/video group, which has curated and presented the several screening events of the independent film-maker's works in Japan since 2002 to 2006.
Currently teaching film-making at Asagaya College of Art & Design and also teaching hand-developing workshops at other art school or art gallery.
The Door of Absence
Ichiro Sueoka
The film is based on the impression after reading "la maladie de la mort" by Marguerite Duras, and added to, with other text, pictures and allegories. Through these movies I try to symbolically express the relationship (and lack of understanding) between males and females.
The Door of Absence
Endlich ist es Frühling
Ichiro Sueoka
"This film is one of my recently series work, 'Re-interpretation for the private films' which has been cited from old home movies. The original home movie was shot in the Palace Sans Souci in early spring, 1931 by an unknown Japanese amateur cineaste. I got this film unexpectedly. But if not, this film had never remained in film history. When we saw this film carefully, we could be found out the sensibility and aesthetics of the Japanese of pre-war days.Accurate operation of camera, delicacy, moderation and a bit of sadness. And we could also notice that he had been seeing a scene of Japan in a foreign country."
Finally, Spring Has Come
Sinking Away
Ichiro Sueoka
"This is one of my recently series work, "re-interpretation for the private films" which has been created from old home movies. This film cited an anonymous film of a Venice sightseeing tour which was shot pre-war; A film where someone who does not know the place recorded a scene of a "sinking" city. Then I felt any film might disappear in the history." -Sueoka
Sinking Away
Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen
Ichiro Sueoka
"I am lost to the world..." (Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen...), the title is quoted from a poem by Friedrich Rückert. This German romanticist poet wrote of the sadness of disappearance. An anonymous amateur cineaste shot some scenes in Kyoto in 1934. This footage has since suffered from typical vinegar syndrome (Hydrolysis) resulting from improper storage. The films were falling into decay and would probably eventually disintegrate without being seen again by anyone. "Film" is not a immortal document, but a vanishing existence. The film which we can know may be merely slight.
I Am Lost to the World
Aziz Shakhar, Looking for a Job
Ichiro Sueoka
"My name is Aziz Shakhar. I had studied the law for two years at the Cairo university. Now I'm living in Amman, Jordany..." A footage which I picked up to cite was one of a "pre-text". In this film, I tried to make a metric film just like a 60-70's structural film. I assumed the film as a set of serialized footage on time. Systematic re-editing made us new meanings and images itself.
Aziz Shakhar, Looking for a Job
Berlin Im Winter
Ichiro Sueoka
The film is one of my recently series work, "Re-interpretation for the private films" which has been cited from old home movies. A Japanese diplomat, Mr.A.O. started for his assignment to Berlin since 1929. He was also the person fascinated by filmmaking. Of course, generally said his films were just the "Home Movie", however when we saw his films carefully, we could be found out the sensibility of other filmmakers in 20s, just like Ruttmann, Vertov or so. I'd like to observe the lost films.
Berlin in the Winter
Portland, Oregon 1931
Ichiro Sueoka
In 1931, the Japanese-Americans enjoyed a spring sports day, conforming to the custom of the mother country. J. Tanaka who was a hotel manager in Portland city recorded the event while chasing his daughter. For him, the every event of Japanese-American people was the important topic that he should have recorded. We can see a lost happy time in this film. However I felt any film might disappear to the history.
Portland, Oregon 1931
