Coming of Age, Drama

Single8

Directed by: Kazuya Konaka
2023 / 113 minutes / Unclassified all ages

An homage to filmmaking steeped in nostalgia

Praised by leading directors Hirokazu Kore-eda and Kiyoshi Kurosawa, Single8 is a charmingly naturalistic film that follows the leaps and dives of a group of high schoolers in 70s Japan, as they endeavour to make an ambitious home movie. Inspired by the revolutionary special effects of Star Wars, Hiroshi is coerced into having another crack at filmmaking after his debut flop Claws; a mountain bear spin-off of Spielberg’s Jaws.  

A fascinating visitation of the lengths that impassioned youth went to in a time before digital video editing software existed, Single8 unpretentiously reflects on the challenges of creative process and experimentation. Director of the famed Ultraman series, Konaka features in the film remakes and stories from his own childhood as a film fanatic. Punctuated by lengths of 8mm footage, the warm glow of the physical film paints a sentimental hue on the characters as they reflect on new friendships and emotional discoveries beyond filmmaking.