STRING FIGURE of Time

This work shows the photos of four generations of women: The director herself, and her grandmother, mother, and daughter.

Contained in one household's album were the memories of women from many generations - women who have passed, women who were newly born, women who became adults, and women who grew to become old. The times they lived were different, yet they were all someone's daughter and someone's mother.
When we take and connect these moments that they share, the concept of time unravels, and takes on a new shape. These stories do not belong to anyone, yet they were all mine at the same time.

  • Kieko IKEHATA
    Director
    Director, Camera
  • F. NOMURA
    Producer
    Producer
  • Kyoko IKEHATA
    Key Cast
    Voice, Camera
  • Kazuyuki SHIMADA
    Sound
    Sound
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    じかんあやとり
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Experimental, Music Video, Short, Other
  • Genres:
    Family, Home Video, Drama, Diary, Memories, Records, Portrait, 8mm, Video Art, Photo, Album, Japanese, Woman, Female, Daughter, Mother, homevideo, homemovie, Video, Art, Home Movie
  • Runtime:
    13 minutes 30 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    December 1, 2018
  • Country of Origin:
    Japan
  • Country of Filming:
    Japan
  • Language:
    Japanese
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital, 8mm Video, Photo
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Black & White and Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • 16. Festival Internacional Signos da Noite Lisbon
    Lisboa
    Portugal
    January 5, 2019
    International Premiere
  • 17th International Festival Signs of the Night / Bangkok
    Bangkok
    Thailand
    June 30, 2019
    Thailand Premiere
    Received "JURY AWARD"
  • 17th International Festival Signes de Nuit Paris
    Paris
    France
    October 9, 2019
    France Premiere
  • 17th International Festival Segnes of the Night Urbino
    Urbino
    Italy
    November 26, 2019
    Italy Premiere
Director Biography - Kieko IKEHATA

Born in 1983. Graduated from the Nihon University College of Art Film Course. Now a temporary employee at a university after having directed documentary TV programs. Member of "Tokyo Eizo Brig." that a creator’s association of experimental films.
In recent years has been creating films in collaboration with my mother utilizing home movies the latter shot over a period of more than thirty years.
In 2017 born the eldest daughter.

"To find the day of 21st" (2017): 16e Festival international Signes de Nuit Paris - Special Award, 15th International Festival Signes de Nuit Lisbonne - Special Award, Image Forum Festival 2017, 17th Nippon Connection Film Festival...etc
"STRING FIGURE of Time" (2018): 17th International Festival Signs of the Night Bangkok - JURY AWARD, 17th International Festival Signes de Nuit Paris...etc

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Director Statement

I have been focusing on the "uncertainty of memory" so far.
In recent years has been creating films in collaboration with my mother.
The main material is my family's home movies my mother shot over a period of more than thirty years.
As I looked back the movies over and over, that footage became clearer than my memories.
This is a strange feeling, but in modern times where anyone can easily take video shooting, it may become normal.
It can be said that we can not believe own feelings.
In order to delve into such a very interesting theme, we are creating a story (it is nonfiction, but also fiction) based on real home movies.