A Dedicated Life
{{Infobox film
| name = A Dedicated Life
| image =
| caption =
| native_name = {{Infobox Japanese|child=yes|hide=no|header=none|kanji=全身小説家|revhep=Zenshin shōsetsuka}}
| director = Kazuo Hara
| producer = Sachiko Kobayashi
| writer =
| starring =
| music = Takashi Sekiguchi
| cinematography = Kazuo Hara
| editing = Jun Nabeshima
| studio = Sprint Production (Kazuo Hara)
| distributor = {{ubl|Sprint Production|Euro Space}}
| released = {{Film date|1994|09|23|Japan|df=y}}{{cite web|url=http://www.kinenote.com/main/public/cinema/detail.aspx?cinema_id=28269 |title=全身小説家 (Zenshin shōsetsuka) |language=ja |website=Kinenote |access-date=2 September 2021}}{{cite web|url=http://www.jmdb.ne.jp/1994/dr001960.htm |title=全身小説家 (Zenshin shōsetsuka) |language=ja |website=Japanese Movie Database |access-date=2 September 2021}}
| runtime = 157 minutes{{efn|A variety of lengths is given for the film's running time, depending on the source. The Internet Movie Database lists 157 minutes, which complies with the length of the Japanese DVD video release.{{cite web|url=https://www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/DIGS-1011?s_ssid=e45cf0613096ddd5c4 |title=Zenshin Shousetsuka |website=CDJapan |access-date=2 September 2021}}}}
| country = Japan
| language = Japanese
}}
{{Nihongo|A Dedicated Life|全身小説家|Zenshin shōsetsuka|lit. "A wholehearted writer"}} is a 1994 Japanese documentary and docudrama film directed by Kazuo Hara about writer Mitsuharu Inoue.{{cite web|url=https://kotobank.jp/word/%E5%85%A8%E8%BA%AB%E5%B0%8F%E8%AA%AC%E5%AE%B6-719115 |title=全身小説家 (Zenshin shōsetsuka) |language=ja |website=Kotobank |access-date=2 September 2021}} It shows the last four years of Inoue's life while fighting cancer, and tries to capture his character and the influence he had on the people around him.
Synopsis
Filming Inoue both at public appearances and in private, and interviewing fellow writers like Yutaka Haniya as well as former pupils of Inoue's literary training centers, some of which speak frankly about their affair with their married teacher, Kazuo Hara draws a portrait of a multi-faceted personality: socially committed and egotistical, extroverted and hiding behind a persona.
Additionally, the film contains scenes which re-enact Inoue's childhood and youth according to his own accounts, which are partially put into question by statements from relatives.
Cast
- Mitsuharu Inoue
- Yutaka Haniya
- Jakuchō Setouchi
- Hiroshi Noma
- Ikuko Inoue
- Kim Gumija as Mother Takako
- Yoshie Yamamoto as Grandmother Saka
- Haruhi Iso as Choi Tsuruyo
- Masayuki Kubota as Mitsuharu as youth
- Hiroya Sugiyama as Mitsuharu as child
Production
Reception
Upon the film's presentation at the Forum section of the 1995 Berlin International Film Festival, critic David Stratton, writing for Variety magazine, called A Dedicated Life "riveting viewing, and, in the end, extremely moving", and "a demanding, but most impressive, film portrait".{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/1995/film/reviews/a-dedicated-life-1200440673/ |title=A Dedicated Life |website=Variety |last=Stratton |first=David |date=19 February 1995 |access-date=2 September 2021}}
Awards
- 19th Hochi Film Award for Best Film{{Cite web|url=http://cinemahochi.yomiuri.co.jp/h_award/1994/ |script-title=ja:報知映画賞ヒストリー (Hochi Film Awards History) |access-date=2010-01-12 |language=ja |publisher=Cinema Hochi |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090131125734/http://cinemahochi.yomiuri.co.jp/h_award/1994/ |archive-date=2009-01-31}}
- 49th Mainichi Film Award for Best Film{{cite web|url=http://mainichi.jp/mfa/history/049.html |title=毎日映画コンクール 第49回 (49th Mainichi Film Awards) |language=ja |website=Mainichi |access-date=2 September 2021}}
- 68th Kinema Junpo Award for Best Film
- 18th Japan Academy Film Prize – Special Award for Kazuo Hara{{cite web|url=https://www.japan-academy-prize.jp/prizes/?t=18 |title=日本アカデミー賞 第18回 (18th Japan Academy Film Prize) |language=ja |website=Japan Academy Prize |access-date=2 September 2021}}
Notes
{{Notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|0109586}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Awards
|list =
{{Hochi Film Award for Best Film}}
{{Mainichi Film Award for Best Film}}
{{Kinema Junpo Award for Best Film}}
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dedicated Life}}
Category:1994 documentary films
Category:Films directed by Kazuo Hara
Category:Japanese documentary films
Category:Documentary films about writers