Osaka Story: A Documentary

((BRITISH -- DOCU))

By DEREK ELLEY

A National Film & Television School production. (International sales: NFTS, U.K.) Produced by Ichiro Matsumoto, Toichi Nakata. Directed by Nakata.

Adeceptively simple docu that starts out as a family portrait but soon develops real teeth, "Osaka Story" is an impressive bow by Japanese-born, Western-based Toichi Nakata, an alum of the U.K.'s National Film & Television School. Drawing material of universal appeal from specifically Asian subject matter, result could well attract cable and specialized Euroweb sales.

Narrated (sometimes not too distinctly) by Nakata himself, film starts as seemingly yet another diary-of-self-discovery by a sibling returning to the nest after a spell abroad. It soon turns out, though, that this is no run-of-the-mill Japanese family.

Nakata's father is, in fact, Korean (traditionally discriminated against in Japan) and, despite having raised a family of seven in Osaka, also has a wife and two kids back in South Korea. Thanks to his success as a moneylender and owner of three pachinko (pinball machine) parlors, the family is well off; but he now hardly speaks to his Japanese wife, has disowned one daughter for marrying a Nipponese, and once disowned his second son for marrying a Korean Moonie.

Surprise of the film is the growing frankness with which family members, including Nakata's long-suffering mother, talk about papa-san, on one occasion even when he's in earshot. To his credit, Nakata, though shocked by some of the discoveries, is careful not to villainize his dad, who in interviews is revealed as a rather sad figure, effectively at home in neither Korea nor Japan, which have a long tradition as enemies.

Nakata's quiet, transparent style, with himself on camera much of the time, lugging around sound equipment, builds to some moving moments,notably at a birthday party for his mother and in solo interviews with his parents. Biggest surprise is saved for the end, when the director reveals his true reason for not fulfilling his duties as eldest son by returning home, marrying, having kids and joining the family biz.

Camera ( 16mm, Metrocolor prints), Simon Atkins; editor, Nakata; sound, Nakata, Mike Billing; associate director, Atkins. Reviewed on vidcassette, London, Nov. 22, 1994. (In London Film Festival.) Running time:77 MIN.

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