“Nanayomachi” by Naomi Kawase (Japan, 2008)

Nanayomachi

No context, just the present! 5 personages, 3 languages: how to understand each other, in time of peace and during conflicts.

Cast: Kyoko Hasegawa, Grégoire Colin, Jun Murakam
Director: Naomi Kawase
Writers: Kyôko Inukai (screenplay), Naomi Kawase (screenplay)
Cinematography by Caroline Champetier
Film Editing by Dominique Auvray, Yûsuke Kaneko, Naomi Kawase

Sharasojyu (Shara) by Naomi Kawase (Japan, 2003)

Sharasojyu

Structure, personages, scarce dialogues with the story being told through the images, blending of anthropological veracity and sensitivity are very similar to those found in Moe No Suzaku.

Cast: Kohei Fukungaga, Yuka Hyyoudo, Naomi Kawase
Director: Naomi Kawase
Writer: Naomi Kawase
Music by Ua
Cinematography by Yutaka Yamazaki
Film Editing by Shôtarô Anraku, Naomi Kawase, Tomoh Sanjo

“Belle” by Amma Asante (UK, 2013)

Belle

Similar in its content to A United Kingdom (2016), Belle shows in a dramatic and intelligent way the web of social constraints that ensue from racial segregation (horizontal) and hierarchical stratification and dominance (vertical inequalities). Furthermore, in both movies, love and politics are cleverly intertwined. And to make matters still more enjoyable, their main female characters are and remain intelligent and substantial throughout the movie.

Cast: Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Tom Wilkinson, Miranda Richardson, Sarah Gadon, Sam Reid, Matthew Goode, Emily Watson, Tom Felton, Penelope Wilton
Director: Amma Asante
Screenplay: Misan Sagay
Cinematography: Ben Smithard
Music: Rachel Portman
Film Editing: Victoria Boydell, Pia Di Ciaula

“A United Kingdom” by Amma Asante (UK, 2016)

A United Kingdom by Amma Asante (2016)

Very similar in its content to Belle (2013), bringing in a dramatic and intelligent way the web of social constraints that ensue from racial segregation (horizontal) and hierarchical stratification and dominance (vertical inequalities). Furthermore, in both movies, love and politics are cleverly intertwined. And to make matters still more enjoyable, their main female characters are and remain intelligent and substantial throughout the movie.

Cast: David Oyelowo, Rosamund Pike, Vusi Kunene, Nicholas Lyndhurst, Jack Davenport Director: Amma Asante
Writer: Guy Hibbert
Cinematographer: Sam McCurdy
Editor: Jonathan Amos, Jon Gregory
Composer: Patrick Doyle