Between Cinema and Theatre
Bharata of Broken Time
Dir. Koike Hiroshi
Japan 2021, 25’
Subtitles: Polish & English
This short film is based on the ancient Indian epic, the Mahabharata. Hiroshi Koike launched the Mahabharata project in 2013, a multicultural theatrical project that brings together the best artists and performers active in Asia. The project aims to adapt the entire Mahabharata for the stage. Adaptations were produced in 7 countries across Asia and performed over 40 times. The project's culmination was to be staged in July, 2020 in Tokyo, however due to COVID-19 the production was postponed to August, 2021. The short film was produced during the period of postponement with the production’s cast members while international travel was prohibited in most parts of the world. The scenes were shot in Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand and edited in Japan. This is the first film that Hiroshi Koike has directed.
Koike Hiroshi
Founder of Pappa TARAHUMARA (1982-2012). He wrote, directed and choreographed 55 productions with Pappa TARAHUMARA, leading a generation in Japanese performing arts to cross genres of drama, dance, art and music. In 2012 he launched the Hiroshi Koike Bridge Project (HKBP) with the mission of producing collaborative projects based on education, dissemination and creativity. Under HKBP, Koike has written, directed and choreographed 21 productions around Asia.
Koike has created work in 10 countries and his productions have been performed in over 40 countries. He has been invited to collaborate with artists around the world. His workshops that focus on reclaiming the physical body have been presented to professional artists as actor training and to the general public for developing creativity in both Japan and overseas. He served as the Artistic Director at Tsukuba Cultural Foundation, Chairman of Asian Performing Arts Forum, Committee Member of Japan Foundation (2005 - 2011). He is a professor at Musashino Art University, where he is the first theater director to be appointed in the Department of Scenography, Display and Fashion Design.
He is the principal and founder of Performing Arts Institute (P.A.I.), an educational institution for developing artists. He is the author of two books. A collection of essays on the intersection of art and society entitled Listen to the Voice of the Body and his theory of direction entitled Performing Arts Theory - Fushi Kaden for the 21st Century. His first anthology of plays entitled Journey to Night and the End of the World was published in 2018.
Filmography
2021 Bharata of Broken Time
Cast & Crew
Director: Koike Hiroshi
Screenplay: Koike Hiroshi
Cinematography:
Editing: Suzuki Seijiro
Music: Yennu Ariendra (Y-DRA)
Costume Design: Rizqiana Atinna, Goswami Mandakini, Lutfi Lulu, Okada Michiyo
Cast: Tetsuro Koyano, Sweekeong Lee, Fukushima Azusa, Pamungkas Danang, Khampha Ronnarong, Purnomo Suryo, Tsuchiya Yutaro, Kusaka Mahya, Araki Ayako, Mori Seiichi, Saito Mao, Blackmary, Koike Hiroshi
Producer: Hiromi
Production: Hiroshi Koike Bridge Project
Language: Japanese
Colouration: Black and White
