Inland Sea (2018) [Documentary Review]

Inland Sea; or, The Inheritance of Loss
     You know I catch fish, so a cat bit my trouser! He probably smelled some fish here. So he bit it.

Release Info

Directed by: Kazuhiro Soda Original Title: 港町

Language: Japanese Runtime: 122 min

Inland Sea (original title: Minatomachi) is a 2018 production which was shot, edited, and directed by Kazuhiro Soda. The movie is not so much a conventional documentary (with narration and statistics) but rather an “observational film” (as stated in the opening credits) which focuses on the town of Ushimado, a place free from metropolitan hustle and bustle, with traditional architecture, rich history, and its friendly inhabitants who share their stories in front of a camera. This is a film about a quiet town that is on the verge of fading away in the era of globalism.

Obviously, I had to check out this documentary when I saw the “Calmy Stunning. Quietly heartbreaking.” recommendation from director Boon Joon-ho. Inland Sea marks my first encounter with Kazuhiro Soda and his style of filmmaking. It is immediately striking that the director does not force anything on the subject matter of his project (he follows his own “ten commandments”). He just walks around Ushimado with a camera and records the everyday activities of the townspeople and their testimonies. In addition, there is something soothing and remarkably poetic in the fact that the film is (almost) entirely black and white. In this way, it resembles a dusty family album.

Inland Sea undeniably provides an intimate look into the unknown side of Japanese society. Topical problems, such as diminishing fishing industry, negative natural increase of the population, and the migration of the youth to cities, are never uttered but they are clearly visible on film. We see them reflected in the hardships of an 86-year-old fisherman Murata Waichiro, daily deliveries of Koso-san (the owner of a fish shop), and candid confessions of a lively obaachan Kumiko Komiyama (featured on the official poster).

Interestingly, Soda manages to seamlessly transfer from one person to another. For instance, we see Wai-chan selling his catch on the market where Koso-san also makes her shopping. From Koso we go to a mother and son who buy ingredients to feed (two!) families of stray cats. Afterwards, Soda follows a passer-by to a cemetery. Eventually, the final (and the longest) section of the film is devoted to Kumiko who becomes a self-proclaimed tour guide, rapidly showing the most interesting places of Ushimado and recounting her life at the same time.

After seeing the documentary, I completely understand Boon Joon-ho’s seal of approval. Inland Sea is a record of a town, a remnant of pre-consumerist Japan, which is slowly dying out. With his natural style of filmmaking, Kazuhiro Soda managed to capture the slice-of-life drama better than Shohei Imamura and Yoji Yamada in their cinematic masterpieces. This observational film grabs you by the heart and does not let go.

Recommendations
I highly recommend Inland Sea to anyone who wants to experience the peaceful microcosm of a Japanese town. You will not be disappointed. My thanks go to TriCoast Studios for sharing the screener. They released the film under their Rock Salt Releasing label. In addition, make sure to check out the film’s official fan page. Also, see the trailer below:

Overall score: 10/10

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