Since 1977, Isao Yamada, director of instant Spectacle classic I’VE HEARD THE AMMONITE MURMUR, has produced over one hundred experimental short film-poetries in a collection he calls Yamavicascope. These films emphasize the “non-digital optical sensation” produced by the 8mm (and occasionally 16mm) film upon which they are shot, and hand-edited, by Yamada. This emphasis on materiality is seen throughout Yamada’s other artistic output, which includes paintings, manga, graphic design, and a calligraphic font known as “Yamada-moji,” which he uses for the titles and type in his films.
This March, Spectacle is honored to present a two-night Yamavicascope retrospective; these four programs, titled by Yamada himself, invite a career-spanning glimpse into the director’s “private films.”
Special thanks to Eiichi Aso, Yamavica Film, and YHI.
PROGRAM 1
Nostalgia, Sadness, and the Sea
FRIDAY, MARCH 14 – 7:30PM
Yamada was 21 years old when he joined the Tenjo Sajiki theater troupe, known as one of the most provocative forces in the newly-emerging angura scene. The troupe was co-founded and led by Shuji Terayama; Yamada credits his relationship with Terayama and working on the art direction of his features as his awakening to film. Following this awakening, Yamada co-founded the Gingagahou-sha Film Club in Sapporo, Japan with manga artist Yumekichi Minatotani. The works in this program make up some of Yamada’s earliest forays into film and introduce his first major collaborator in Minatotani.
AN INCIDENT OF NIGHT
(スバルの夜)
Dir. Isao Yamada, 1977.
Japan. 25 min.
Yamada’s directorial debut and the first film released by the Gingagahou-sha Film Club.
NIGHT OF THE MILKY WAY RAILROAD
(銀河鉄道の夜)
Dir. Isao Yamada, 1982.
Japan. 45 min.
THE FAN OF SPIRAL SHELL
(巻貝の扇)
Dirs. Isao Yamada, Yumekichi Minatoya, 1983.
Japan. 12 min.
Yamada’s first film shot on 16mm.
SAD GADOLF
(悲しいガドルフ)
Dirs. Isao Yamada, Yumekichi Minatoya, 1984.
Japan. 20 min.
Total running time: 102 min.
PROGRAM 2
Ways of Remembering Your Dreams
FRIDAY, MARCH 14 – 10:00PM
This program features two more of Yamada’s collaborators: Hiroko Ishimaru (who stars in I’VE HEARD THE AMMONITE MURMUR) and Mizuho Kudo.
CRYSTAL
(水晶)
Dir. Isao Yamada, 1988.
Japan. 12 min.
THE CROWN OF DREAMS
(夢を冠に)
Dir. Isao Yamada, 1990.
Japan. 16 min.
THE DESCENDENT OF ANDROGYNOUS
(アンドロギュヌスの裔)
Dir. Isao Yamada, 1995.
Japan. 25 min.
FRAGMENTATION OF NIGHT
(夜のフラグメント)
Dir. Isao Yamada, 1996.
Japan. 12 min.
SWAMP
(沼)
Dir. Isao Yamada, 1999.
Japan. 12 min.
A STAR AND A PROPELLER
(星とプロペラ)
Dir. Isao Yamada, 2000.
Japan. 13 min.
Total running time: 90 min.
PROGRAM 3
Marionette Fantasies
SATURDAY, MARCH 15 – 5:00PM
“フィルムの死が先か、「私」の死が先か、という状況にある。”
(“The situation is whether the death of 8mm film comes first, or the death of ’I’ comes first.”)
– Yamada (2017)
GIRL ORPHEE
(少女オルフェ)
Dir. Isao Yamada, 2001.
Japan. 20 min.
WINTER FLOWER
(逢魔ヶ時)
Dir. Isao Yamada, 2003.
Japan. 15 min.
FEEL
(そして彼女の手は優しく触れる)
Dir. Isao Yamada, 2004.
Japan. 15 min.
CHRYSANTHEMUM INSPIRATION
(Chrysanthemum綺想)
Dir. Isao Yamada, 2005.
Japan. 20 min.
WINTER HAS A DREAM
(白昼夢)
Dir. Isao Yamada, 2008.
Japan. 20 min.
Total running time: 90 min.
PROGRAM 4
Life Flashing Before One’s Eyes, and Fables
SATURDAY, MARCH 15 – 7:30PM
DESPAIR ARABESQUE
(絶望アラベスク)
Dir. Isao Yamada, 2011.
Japan. 34 min.
REFLECTION
(Kioku)
Dir. Isao Yamada, 2014.
Japan. 23 min.
61st International Short Film Festival Oberhausen selection.
APPARITION’S MOMENT
(幻視の一瞬)
Dir. Isao Yamada, 2017.
Japan. 3 min.
THE NIGHT OF COPERNICUS
(コペルニクスの夜)
Dir. Isao Yamada, 2020-21.
Japan. 28 min.
Total running time: 88 min.