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— N.P | 2020
Lisa Spilliaert

2K, 4:3, Colour

Non spoken

Intertitles in English, French and Japanese

60'

Set during one Japanese summer, the silent film N.P follows four young people who discover how a single book unites them. All four are fascinated by the novel N.P by the late and enigmatic author Sarao Takase. The film dissects the complex web of relationships among the young characters.

 

How does a translation connect to the original? How does fiction relate to reality? And what is the nature of the often incestuous interactions among the protagonists?

 

The strikingly beautiful colours of summer define the film's mood and atmosphere, transforming its complex, dark core into a serene and glowing meditation on youth and the influence of past experiences on one’s life.

 

Lisa Spilliaert grew up in Japan and Belgium. A personal dialogue between these two cultures is a common thread in her photography and film work. For N.P., her feature film debut, Spilliaert chose to adapt the novel as a non-spoken film with inter-titles, highlighting the physical presence of words. The verbal silence is complemented by newly commissioned compositions from noise rock legends Wolf Eyes (US), sound artist Asuna (JP), and the eloquent synth-pop of Stacks (BE).

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Based on the book N.P by Banana Yoshimoto, originally published in 1990 by Kadokawa Shoten Publishing Co., Ltd. in Japan. English translation first published in 1994 by Grove Press.

Credits :

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Production: Escautville

Co-production : Argos, Beursschouwburg

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  • Director : Lisa Spilliaert

  • Translation, Dramaturgy : Sis Matthé

  • Sound Concept : Vincent Stroep

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Main actors :

  • Kazami Kano : Clara Spilliaert

  • Sui Minowa : Mikiko Kawamura

  • Saki Takase : Saartje Vande Steene

  • Otohiko Takase : Hiroshi Miyamura

 

Japanese crew :

  • Line Producer : Takehiko Kurokawa

  • Camera : Hiroshi Ashikaga

  • Drone, Assistant Camera : Takao Yoshimori

  • Gaffer : Hans Bruch Jr.

  • Assistant Gaffer : Mitsunori Sakano

 

Belgian crew:

  • Camera, Gaffer : Hans Bruch Jr.

  • Assistant Camera, Gaffer : Bert Savels

 

Post-production :

  • Subtitle Font, Title Design : Kyosuke Fujita

  • Sound design : Sen Studio

  • Foley : Olivier Thys

  • Final mix : Laszlo Umbreit

  • Editing : Inneke Van Waeyenberghe, Lisa Spilliaert

  • Soundtrack : Asuna, Wolf Eyes, Stacks

 

Thanks to : Tokyo Vision, Crasco, Kanazawa Film Commission, Toyama University of International Studies

With the Support of Flanders Audiovisual Fund, Arts Flanders Japan, City of Ghent, Vidi-Square

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​Screenings:

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  • 2019: Avant-première: Beursschouwburg, Brussels (BE)

  • 2020: World Première: FID Marseille, International Competition (FR)

  • 2020: Berwick Film & Media Arts festival, Berwick-upon-Tweed (UK)

  • 2020: Openingsfilm: UNDERDOX, München (GE)

  • 2020: litfilms - Literatur Film Festival, Münster (DE)

  • 2020: Black Canvas FCC, International Competition New Canvas, Mexico City (MX)

  • 2021: Singapore International Festival of Arts (SG)

  • 2021: Days of European Film, Praha (CZ)

  • 2021: Belgian Avant-premiére: De Cinema (Antwerp, BE)

  • 2021: Worm Rotterdam (NL)

  • 2021: 35th Image Forum Festival, Tokyo (JP)

  • 2021: Belgian Première: Courtisane Festival - in collaboration with Art Cinema OFFoff (BE)

  • 2021: SCANORAMA European Film Forum (LT)

  • 2021: Efebo d’Oro - International Prize for Cinema and Narrative (IT)

  • 2022: VCD Beijing (CN)

  • 2022: Centre Wallonie-Bruxelles, Paris (FR) - Carte blanche à Hubert Colas, in collaboration with FID Marseille (FR)

  • 2022: Filmhuis CAVIA, Amsterdam (NL)

  • 2022: Ciné Rio / De Koer, Ghent (BE)

  • 2022: e-flux Film "Takeover" (online)

  • 2022: Cine Monde, Kanazawa (JP)

  • 2022: Hotori Za, Toyama (JP)

  • 2022: Image Forum, Tokyo (JP)

  • 2022: Nagoya Cinematheque, Nagoya (JP)

  • 2022: Jack & Betty, Yokohama (JP)

  • 2022: Cine Nouveau, Osaka (JP)

  • 2022: Minami Kaikan, Kyoto (JP)

  • 2023: De Cinema Antwerp (BE)

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