Kaori Momoi's "Hee" Nominated in Berlin I'nal

Kaori Momoi is a highly acclaimed character actress and now she tries her gift as a film director in a film made in her own home in Los Angeles.

I'm Nathan Shiga and I have here a unique report on how the whole thing ever came about.

Te make the whole episode rather timely, her film "Hee" (from Hi for fire in Japanese) is nominated for the Forum of the 66th Berlin International Film Festival, one of the world's three major film festivals. Altogether 18 works are participating in the festival from Japan.

In the short film sector an anime " Vita Lakamaya" by Akita Izumihara in nominated. Also some 11 8-mm films by other Japanese directors are shown.

Now, on the Momoi film. This is her second film based on a story by Fuminori Nakamura. Producer Kazuyoshi Okuyama had asked the writer to give him something no film could be made of. "Fire" was suggested and accepted; a film was made of it, though, titled "Hee".

After the preview, Nakamura was wordless and said:

"I watched the film as a mere spectator and admit I was moved. That was far more than I deserve as its author",

So, it must be a gem. The festival is due to open February 12, JST, and there is a good chance it wins the prize.

As mentioned earlier, the film was taken at her home in Los Angeles. Her living room was lit up and her neighbors volunteered to offer their living quarters as "homes" of the cameraman and lawyer in the film.

"I was hard up and minimize expenses", confides Momoi. She said she had wanted to make films and each time she had tried in vain short of funds.

"I managed to make a film out of a work the author himself had assured no film could ever be made of. So, what else could I do? Just make one", she beams.

Good show, Kaori Momoi.