The Kon Ichikawa Story (AKA: A Filmful Life) (DVD) (English Subtitled) (Japan Version) DVD Region 2

Filmful Life plays like a documentary from the silent film era, connected by intertitles that read like a film class essay on Ichikawa written by Iwai, and photographs digitally manipulated to make them appear to be moving. Based on extensive interviews between the two directors (some of them are included in the DVD and are never shown in the film itself), Filmful Life is essentially split into three sections. One, before the beginning of Ichikawa's directorial career, when he managed to avoid military duty during World War II and, during a stint as an animator, predicted the United States would win the war after watching Walt Disney's Fantasia. Two, his marriage to screenwriter Natto Wada, and their subsequent 28 collaborations. And three, his career after Wada's death, emphasizing the Kindaichi series (including The Inugamis and its remake). Those familiar with Ichikawa's work will find the second section the most rewarding and touching due to its emphasis on Wada's importance in some of Ichikawa's most successful films. Even for those not familiar with Ichikawa, this section humanizes the master greatly by placing him in a rare vulnerable position where he is not just portrayed as a legend, but also as a devoted husband who could bring himself to change a film's ending simply because his wife says so.

While the film does delve into the evolution of the Japanese film industry in small doses, true appreciation of Filmful Life can only be felt if one has at least a slight idea of who Ichikawa is. This applies to not just foreign audiences, who have to read the same amount of subtitles as local audiences anyway, but even to Japanese Iwai fans who feel like they must catch everything with Iwai's name on it. Despite Iwai's numerous creative efforts to keep things engaging, Filmful Life works best as a companion piece to Ichikawa film screenings rather than an independent feature film (And judging from the emphasis on the Kindaichi series, it's obvious which films Ichise would like Filmful Life to be paired with). As comprehensive as Filmful Life is, the film fails to spark any prolonged interest for general audiences, who might find Ichikawa's humble beginnings interesting, but are likely to lose attention when Iwai begins to name all of Ichikawa's 76 films. Nevertheless, Filmful Life is a rare documentary that manages to present a man's eventful life in an efficient fashion, while also allowing the director's style to shine through without becoming self-indulgent. Despite its obvious promotional intentions, Filmful Life is a unique and long overdue documentary for a cinematic legend that should be required viewing in every Japanese film class.

By Kevin Ma