Dawn of a Filmmaker: The Keisuke Kinoshita Story (はじまりのみち)

A Shochiku Production

Yonezu Beach Hamamatsu City Shizuoka

Port of Flowers

Directed by Keisuke Kinoshita

Such a beautiful spot!

A lovely view.

My father was wise to choose this island.

Indeed.

In 1943, while the Pacific War raged

Keisuke Kinoshita directed his first film, "Port of Flowers".

He was born in Hamamatsu and shot on location there,

commuting from his family home.

That year,

along with fellow debutant Akira Kurosawa,

he won the Sadao Yamanaka Prize for the best new directors,

beginning a joyous life in film.

The Army

Directed by Keisuke Kinoshita

GO on, jump! Do it!

How could you be so careless!

Bow clown and apologize properly!

However, as the tide of the war turned

the nation demanded more cooperation from its citizens,

and the firm industry was required to make propaganda.

"The Army“, directed by Kinoshita in 1944

was a product of that era.

A Cabinet Intelligence Bureau censor

described its last scene

of a mother sending her son off to war as unmanly

and of no use in lifting the spirit for war.

Kinoshita's next project was canceled.

Shochiku Ofuna Studio April 1945

Canceled?

What for'?

The screenplay is done!

Bear with it, Kinoshita.

It pains me too.

Let's make something else.

The bureau disliked

"The Army"'s last scene?

It was too unmanly and western?

So I'm unfit to make a film about the kamikaze.

Do you agree?

I believe that

"The Army" is an admirable piece of work.

But you can't go against the bureau?

You know I can't!

We're losing the war, and the government controls film making.

Production volume, film usage,

and content is out of our hands!

I'm aware of that!

However,

what's wrong about depicting motherly love'?

Isn't it the truth'?

Kinoshita!

Kinoshita,

I believe in your talent.

The cancelation's unfortunate,

but dwelling on it

will not aid you in any way

So the war comes first?

Japanese are heartless?!

I'm not saying that.

You're still young.

You'll go on to make other films.

In terms of your future

directing career,

it might be for the best.

I'll resign.

Kinoshita, wait!

I won't accept it.

Excuse me.

THE KEISUKE KINOSHITA STORY

Kiga Town, Shizuoka

How do you feel, Mother'?

No, lie down.

Still the same'?

As my letter said, I've submitted my resignation.

I'm sorry

You've had a hard time too,

moving from place to place.

But it's lucky we came here.

Hamamatsu's being bombed more.

Toshio,

have father and the others evacuated yet'?

It isn't easy to close the stores

he worked so hard to build.

I kn ow,

but the bombs don't care about that.

Try telling him too.

I'll be with you from now on. Rest easy

No more Keisuke, I'm Shokichi Kinoshita again.

June 18th, 1945 The Great Air Raid of Hamamatsu City

Kinoshita, who was staying at his family's home, ran for his life.

Well,

both stores were burnt down,

but I'm glad we all survived unscathed.

We can't rest easy yet.

The Americans might invade soon,

so we should move to Kassaka.

Suzuki said we can come anytime.

I sent Sakuyo and Yoshiko on ahead.

Our rooms are ready

How do we take Mother'?

Together, by bus.

No, the roads are too rough.

It has to be done carefully

Sure,

but we can't carry her on a door.

Kassaka is 50 or 60 kilometers away

Plus, from Keta we can only go by trolley train.

We'll never find a car to use now.

It has to be by bus.

What about by handcart?

Loan pull it.

It's not 50 or 60 kilometers.

We go to Keta,

then catch a trolley to Kassaka.

Don't be silly

It's a long road to Keta. You'll do yourself in on the way

Listen, I'll ask the bus driver

to go as slowly as he can.

Not with other passengers on board.

A handcart might make for a gentler ride.

But who knows how long it'll take'?

Then we'll leave early

That wouldn't help.

It won't be as easy as you think.

I know.

It'd never work.

How about you, Mother'?

We could take the bus.

Why me too?

I said I can do it myself.

Like hell you can.

It'll be hard enough with two of you.

Doesn't mean we need a handyman.

You're a stubborn one.

The more hands the better.

You always liked

m do Mugs your own way.

You suddenly left home to make movies

then quit without asking us first...

Mother said the car’s OK.

You sure about this?

It'll be tough.

The handyman's late.

I told him to come at 12am...

Hey there he is!

Huh?

Where's Takagi'?

Ah.

He got his draft notice last night so it's me now.

Oh...

That's...

Sorry it's so late.

No problem. That's what handymen are for.

Sorry to ask right away

but about my fee...

Oh, I'll pay what I agreed with Takagi.

Better to check now than quarrel over it later.

So, what am I hauling?

Over there.

'Evening.

Who's this?

Our mother.

We're evacuating to Kassaka, but she's ill.

So, we're taking her like this.

Kassaka'?! Over those mountains?!

You're nuts!

It'll take forever!

That's why we're leaving now.

To avoid the sunlight.

Help us get to Keta.

We'll take a trolley from there.

I ain't hauling no lady in a cart.

Just haul our belongings.

Leave this one for us.

My younger brother. He's coming with us.

Darn right!

All I was told was to haul luggage.

Take care of yourselves. I'll catch the morning bus.

See you.

You alright? Tell us if you're not.

Father once took a cart full of goods

to sell in Suwa, didn't he'?

It took him days to sell it all.

That's right. Some vile fellow

tried to rip him off by purposely getting run over.

After all he went through,

he finally built up his business...

Er... ls this as fast as we go'?

What is it'?

What's wrong?

Look at that sun.

It's gonna be a hot day

So,

do you run your oown business?

Yeah.

We have a grocery in Hamamatsu called Owariya.