Private Project

The Town With The Tower

“If you are chosen, you must not open” echoed in his ears.

Megumi, broken hearted after his wife Shinobu leaves him, contemplates taking his own life on the same day that the tower that dominates his town begins to tremble. With nothing to lose, and faced with the choice to challenge a terrifying tradition of the town, he is brought to the edge of a world he was never ready to face.

  • Leo Ashizawa
    Director
  • Leo Ashizawa
    Writer
  • Leo Ashizawa
    Producer
  • Nic Wassell
    Producer
    The Distant Sea
  • Leo Ashizawa
    Key Cast
    Citadel, A Discovery of witches
  • Kentaro Suyama
    Key Cast
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    塔のある街
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Sci-fi, drama, mystery
  • Runtime:
    21 minutes 10 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 24, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    4,000 GBP
  • Country of Origin:
    Japan
  • Country of Filming:
    Japan, United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English, Japanese
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    4:3
  • Film Color:
    Black & White
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Leo Ashizawa

Leo Ashizawa is an actor based in London. Ashizawa was born and raised in Japan. His credit includes in Citadel (Amazon prime series 2023) and A Discovery of Witches (Sky TV series 2022)
This film is his directorial debut.

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Director Statement

As communities become less isolated and societies become more homogenised, regional cultures can often be changed and the meanings of their rituals lost. The symbolism that is important to a community, particularly in more isolated areas, often has its roots deep in the history and tradition of that community, and can be strange and baffling to outsiders entering that society from a modern, cosmopolitan world. "The Town With The Tower" is an exploration of that conflict, both the tension between the people from inside and outside a culture, but also the pressure to conform to social expectations. At what point does the freedom of the individual give way to the needs of a society to protect and maintain its identity? How can we ensure a future where both are respected? This short film is just a tip of iceberg for the world of “The Town with the Tower” and more stories set in this world are currently in development.