[July 19] [July 20] [July 21] [July 22]

July 21, 2002

9:50	Day Two Matsumoto

Another beautiful day in Matsumoto, and another day of large crowds showing up for the festival. Matsumoto, which is the last city on the SSFF 2002 tour, is a part of Japan that is well-known for many of its hand-made crafts. In the stores that surround the hall where the festival has held its screenings, posters and other advertisements with this year's main visual are everywhere. In the festival lounge, however, are numerous hand-made dolls and other items with the SSFF posters and fans on display, together.

17:20

Viewers talk about Program G

Wakako Inukai had just exited the theatre when she was bombarded with questions about the films she had just seen in Program G. What did she think? Did she like the films? Is she going back in to see some more films? "Very interesting! But…I came straight from work, and I kind of fell asleep in the first few minutes of the program, so I kind of missed a little…oops." At least she admitted it. She even told us that last year she had seen the ads and posters all over town announcing the festival but didn't go. Wakako lives about two hours away from the festival hall. "After watching the program today, I wish I lived closer so that I could see more of the films," she laments. But she's so glad she made it. "I think I liked the Ethan Hawke film ('Straight to One') the best."

Wakako's friend, Etsuko Kurita, also made the long trek to the festival. Obviously, she's got different taste. Her favorite film was John Chu's 'Silent Beats.' "It's a very short film but it tackles all sorts of issues in it, such as discrimination, the way one looks at other people. It really made me understand the meaning and the purpose of short films."