The Inland Sea (1991)
56 min
In 1971, author and film scholar Donald Richie published a poetic travelogue about his explorations of the islands of Japan’s Inland Sea, recording his search for traces of a traditional way of life as well as his own journey of self-discovery. Twenty years later, filmmaker Lucille Carra undertook a parallel trip inspired by Richie’s by-then-classic book, capturing images of hushed beauty and meeting people who still carried on the fading customs that Richie had observed. Interspersed with surprising detours—a visit to a Frank Sinatra-loving monk, a leper colony, an ersatz temple of plywood and plaster—and woven together by Richie’s narration as well as a score by celebrated composer Toru Takemitsu, The Inland Sea is an eye-opening voyage and a profound meditation on what it means to be a foreigner.
- Release date
- December 1, 1991
- Country of origin
- United States
- Music
- Tôru Takemitsu
Cast
- Donald Richie as Narrator
- Keijo Hasegawa as Self - buddhist Priest (Shodoshima)
- Akira Hamada as Self - Calligraphy Writer (Yashima)
- Tasuya Hatanaka as Self - Young Fisherman (Shodoshima)
- Fujie Ozawa as Self - Newspaper Delivery Lady
Crew
- Lucille Carra · Director
- Donald Richie · Writer
- Lucille Carra · Writer
- Lucille Carra · Producer
- Brian Cotnoir · Producer
- Tôru Takemitsu · Composer
- Hiro Narita · Cinematographer
- Brian Cotnoir · Editor