LAST FLOWERS | Kokuhaku

Kokuhaku
Directed by Tetsuya Nakashima
Edited by Yoshiyuki Koike
Written by Tetsuya Nakashima & Kanae Minato
2010, Japan
"Last Flowers" by Radiohead
Vid by GeekyKristie

Kokuhaku, or Confessions, is a film done entirely as a cross-cut montage. Cross-cutting is a editing technique typically used to express simultaneous action in separate places within a narrative but like many editing techniques that isn't a entirely solid definition. Cross-cutting can also be used to "jump around" in a film's narrative timeline. Kokuhaku is cut with forward momentum, with "flash backs" and back history spliced together with both "current" events and events that technically have not happened yet. Through this pulsing, constant, montage of "current" happenings, "flash backs", and "flash forwards" Confessions unfolds a labyrinth of personal viewpoints and emotional landscapes. I wanted to make a vid that both mimics the film's technique and pulls out the themes and ideas that I personally found most interesting. How I went about this project was I decided early on to make the vid a "rhythmic tonal montage".

Rhythmic editing is (but not limited to!) what it sounds like. A tonal montage is a technique pioneered by soviet film makers like Vsevolod Pudovkin and Sergei Eisenstein; simply put it is the juxtaposition of footage in order to present contrast, comparisons, or ideas using the emotional meaning of the shots.

Using Radiohead's "Last Flowers" and the footage from Kokuhaku I deliberately explored every possible 'rhythm' within the song; from the piano cords, guitar cords, the vocals and sometimes (briefly) the space inbetween all three - alternating rhythmic focus of editing while constantly cross-cutting scenes as Yoshiyuki Koike did.

I was afraid at first the poignancy of these scenes cross-cut together would be lost on individuals who have not seen Kokuhaku but now that I am done I think it is possible to correctly assess the emotions and themes without a prior viewing of the source material (and whose to say there is a 'correct assessment' to begin with, what you take away from this separate video as opposed to the source material is just as valid as one would from any other video - as is the joy, purpose, and basic principle of reshaping a "finished product").

Overall I'm pretty proud of this one. It wasn't a severely technical editing process, but I went in wanting to take my time, and wanting to get the rhythmic and emotional timing right.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• Kokuhaku
• Tetsuya Nakashima
• Confessions
• vid
• vidding
• editing
• Radiohead

[Dworld92]

Looks like perfection. The movie is just amazing! I absoultely agree by saying this is a masterpiece and you definitely did a great job. Your video is combining pictures and music to create an epic atmosphere and tension. Gorgeous!

[GeekyKristie]

@Dworld92 Oh my goodness, wow, thank you!

[ManliAnoen]

was the ONLY japanese movie I've ever seen that actually touched me so deeply... Nothing to say, your video express perfectly everything about this masterpiece!

[GeekyKristie]

@ManliAnoen Aw, thank you so much!

[jojokoification]

This film ... I think it's very dark ...

But i like it !

I like this movie !

[animeegirl111]

@KimSooYun94

basically, its about two boys who kill their teachers daughter.

[theLoo7791]

Every time when I finish watching this movie I hear a certain sound, but it doesn't go like "PLOP" - it goes like "BOOM!" :)

Amazing movie, amazing soundtrack AND amazing actors! Incredibly touching...

[hefcore]

POP!

This is the end.

[cpsenxes]

Nicely done.

[KimSooYun94]

i've read the plot on wikipedia but i still dont quite understand...what is it actually about??