Synopsis

Director Ogata Akira’s 1999 film < Boy’s Choir> takes a look at the turmoil in Japan in early 70’s through the eyes of two boys. Michio is sent to an orphanage after the death of his father. There he befriends Yasuo, a boy soprano who draws him into the school choir. These volatile young men are pulled into activism by the suicide bombing of their choirmaster’s ex-girlfriend. Going through puberty and the changing of his voice, Yasuo is frustrated. Michio stands by Yasuo and together they share musical and political visions. They perform revolutionary songs in a choral competition, but what awaits them is despair. Ikebe Shinichiro, who had been working almost exclusively with Japan’s most acclaimed directors, made an exception to collaborate with newcomer Ogata Akira. His score for this film, utilizing string orchestra and choir, beautifully represents the bitter adolescence of two boys in a tumultuous time. This film won the Alfred Bauer Award at the 2000 Berlin Film Festival, and the Best New Director and Best Supporting Role awards at several Japanese film festivals.

감독

오가타 아키라

1959년생인 오가타 아키라는 후쿠오카 대학의 학생시절에 이시이 소고 감독을 만나 <쿠루이자키 썬더로드>(1980), <셔플>(1981), <폭열도시>(1982)과 같은 이시이 소고의 초기 영화에서 조연출로 일했다. 1980년에 <도쿄 한쿠사이 칸케이샤>라는 단편을 만들었고 이후 수많은 텔레비전 광고, 드라마, 다큐멘터리, 뮤직 비디오들을 연출했다. <독립소년합창단>은 그의 첫 장편영화다.