THEATRE 2
(演劇 2)
2012. 172 mins.
In Japanese with English subtitles.

SATURDAY, APRIL 27 – 4:30 PM with Kazuhiro Soda and producer Kiyoko Kashiwagi in-person for Q&A.
(This event is $10.)

If the first THEATRE zeroed in on Hirata as an impresario, the sequel expands on questions of art and society by following him as he seeks financing for more ambitious-still performances, including the kind of work that’s made him famous internationally – his interest in staging plays with robot actors alongside the humans. Hirata’s own European influences and philosophical insight amount to a master class, but also open up essential questions: Why have people been watching Romeo & Juliet for 400 years despite knowing the ending? What is theatre? Why do human beings act? What emerges is a (frequently hilarious) depiction of Hirata’s belief in public arts programming as a kind of therapeutic practice, and his unwavering faith in the ability of this kind of performance to startle and surprise a different audience each time.

“Through the fascinating spirit and creativity of Oriza Hirata, Kazuhiro Soda’s THEATRE 1 & 2 evokes a plurality of dimensions cleverly portrayed as inseparable aspects of the same problem: pedagogy vs. performance, culture vs. politics, individual creation and experiences vs. collective involvement and responsibilities. A tale of art in our time, THEATRE 1 & 2 is one of those rare and precious acts of filmmaking that delves deep into the essence of culture. – Jérôme Baron, Artistic director, Festival des 3 Continents