Aoki and Mori

"Aoki and Mori" is a short film that delves into the intricacies of gay dating in Japan. Aoki, a solitary Japanese gay man, spends a night by himself in a hotel, seeking companionship through a gay dating app. His interactions with Mori leave him feeling hollow and dissatisfied, leading him to ponder the difficulties of discovering love and acceptance as a gay man in Japan. This poignant film explores the human condition and the universal longing for love, acceptance, and connection.

  • Joris Wu
    Director
  • Joris Wu
    Writer
  • Junshin Soga
    Key Cast
    "Aoki"
  • Yuta Koga
    Key Cast
    "Mori"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    LGBTQ+, Gay, Black and white, BnW, Japan
  • Runtime:
    22 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    May 5, 2023
  • Country of Origin:
    Hong Kong
  • Country of Filming:
    Japan
  • Language:
    Japanese
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1.85
  • Film Color:
    Black & White and Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Joris Wu

Wu Man-Chiu, Joris, is a Hong Kong based multimedia artist, currently working as an editor in Sample Magazine, focusing art and media culture, curating the issues of 'PROJECT'. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Creative Media from School of Creative Media, City University of Hong Kong and studied abroad at Goldsmiths, University of London, Edinburgh Napier University and Shih Hsin University in Taiwan. He focuses on filmmaking, experimental videography and photography. He dedicates to explore the possibilities of narratives with the contents of social and political issues, LGBTQ+, politics of images.

His works have been shown in Hong Kong, Taipei, Seoul, and Shanghai recently. For his first short film ‘1995’, he was awarded the best film and the best director in Taiwan Golden Sugarcane Film Festival 2018, best of the show award in School of Creative Media Annual Show 2018, special mention in Shanghai Pride Film Festival 2019 and official selection in Korea Queer Film Festival 2019. During his studies, he was awarded the Talent Development Scholarship by HKSAR in 2018, and Asia One Julian Lee Photographic Awards in 2019.

He was the curator of School of Creative Media Annual Show 2019 and he works in art organizations and filmmaking crews recently.

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Director Statement

" Aoki and Mori" explores the themes of searching, loneliness, and the universal desire for connection and intimacy. It portrays the struggles and anxieties of being a gay man in Japan, where social norms and expectations often make it difficult to find love and acceptance. The film also touches on the complexities of modern dating and the dangers of cruising for sex in public places.

Through its imagery and evocative storytelling, "Aoki and Mori" offers a poignant and thought-provoking exploration of the human condition, and the universal desire for love, acceptance, and connection.