The Reunion of a Long-Estranged Father and His Son w/ Kei Chika-Ura

Listen to our podcast conversation with Kei Chika-Ura, director of Great Absence from the 2023 San Sebastián International Film Festival.

TFV‘s Matt Micucci’s podcast coverage of the 2023 San Sebastián International Film Festival continues with a conversation with Japanese filmmaker Kei Chika-Ura. His second feature film, Great Absence, celebrated its European Premiere in the festival’s official selection.

The film chronicles the forced reunion between a son and his long-estranged father after 20 years. In this podcast, we talk with the director about the personal experiences that shaped the narrative and the intricate representations of dementia in cinema.

Other topics explored include the origins of his own interest in filmmaking and his experience of working on this project with a legend of Japanese film, actor Tatsuya Fuji, who was awarded the Silver Shell for Best Leading Performance for his role in the movie.