Director: Ryuichi Inomata
2010, Japan, 122 min.
Watching the economic decline of their beloved hometown, the members of a high school calligraphy club attempt to restore some of their city’s former vitality. Undaunted by the various difficulties they face – disagreements within the club and objections from the adults around them – the members work together to achieve their goal. Their enthusiasm and passion eventually turns their project into a major movement that rejuvenates the adults around them. This film is loosely based on a popular Japanese television event called “Shodo Performance Koshien” where high school girls compete by performing traditional calligraphy on 10-meter sheets of paper, choreographed and set to music.
Some of these “Shodo (calligraphy) Girls” appear in the movie’s final contest scene.
