Director Ryusuke Hamaguchi poses with the Oscar for Finest Worldwide Function Movie for “Drive My Automobile” of Japan within the photograph room throughout the 94th Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, U.S., March 27, 2022. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
TOKYO, March 28 (Reuters) – From Tokyo streets to the best ranges of presidency, Japan on Monday cheered the Oscar win of “Drive My Automobile” amid hopes it can elevate the profile of Haruki Murakami, the perennial Nobel prize hopeful who penned the story on which the movie was primarily based.
The three-hour drama, the story of a widowed theatre actor grappling along with his previous, was directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi and primarily based on a brief story by Murakami, the worldwide bestselling writer whose identify has arisen yearly for greater than a decade as a possible Nobel Literature Prize winner. learn extra
The movie, which has garnered different prizes together with a screenplay award at Cannes, grew to become Japan’s second common winner within the Worldwide Function Movie class and the primary since “Departures” in 2009. In a primary, it had additionally been nominated for “Finest Image” – finally received by “CODA.”
“It is a excessive hurdle for a Japanese film to win Finest Image, however I hope extra Japanese motion pictures will probably be recognised sooner or later,” mentioned Azusa Shimizu, a 31-year-old media employee in downtown Tokyo, who mentioned she was nonetheless fairly completely satisfied.
Others have been extra effusive.
“On condition that the mainstay of the Academy Awards is American motion pictures, I am actually completely satisfied {that a} Japanese movie was capable of win this prestigious award,” mentioned 60-year-old Osamu Kaneko, who was taking a look at movie posters in downtown Tokyo.
Normally staid Chief Cupboard Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno instructed a usually scheduled information convention the win was “very thrilling information,” whereas Prime Minister Fumio Kishida mentioned in a press release that a part of the film’s appeal was undoubtedly its settings in his personal electoral district of Hiroshima.
“I might like to make use of this as a possibility to strengthen assist for cultural and creative actions which can be the supply of sentimental energy and unfold Japanese tradition to the world,” he added.
Others hoped the prize would profit Murakami.
“Haruki Murakami is a author who has proven Japan to the world and been talked about as a Nobel candidate many occasions with out really profitable,” mentioned Hiroshi Hattori, 65.
“I feel it would be actually good if this film helps unfold his identify, and his works, even additional.”
Extra reporting by Mariko Katsumura; Enhancing by Stephen Coates
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