Sanrizuka – Heta Village (三里塚 辺田部落) 
Ogawa Productions | 1973 | Japan | 146’ | Digital | 16mm |  Japanese spoken, English subtitles 

The aftermath of the violent clashes between the opposition and the government forces resulted in deaths, injuries and arrests, leaving a deep scar and grief among the people living in the fields. Young farmers were continually arrested and prevented from working during the harvest season. The situation strengthened the bonds within the village community, which came together to mourn and discuss their grief and how best to help those in prison. This is the situation depicted in Sanrizuka – Heta Village. Seeking to find the roots of this ongoing resistance in the village’s history, customs and traditions, as well as in the people’s attachment to the land, the filmmakers return to film village life. Storytelling and community discussions set the pace of the film. Heta Village is a work of great patience and dedication, with a structure that responds to the time of the village and the general tone of the people’s feelings. Ultimately, this film about time, place and resistance results from the filmmakers’ deep empathy and solidarity with those with whom they lived and struggled. 

With an introduction by Ricardo Matos Cabo.

(Photo Ogawa Pro. Courtesy of Athénée Français Cultural Center, Tokyo)