Seishin 0

Zero

Forum 2020

Dr. Yamamoto is a psychiatrist, 82 years old and about to give up his practice. In the sixties, he fought for closed psychiatric institutions to open their doors; the film Seishin, also by Kazuhiro Soda (Berlinale Forum 2008), centred on his achievements in life. This serves as the jumping off point for Seishin 0: Dr. Yamamoto receives his patients for the last time, the camera watches patiently, recording the smallest movements and gestures, the worries, the silences, the sadness and the solace. After the practice has closed, the film shifts its focus to the relationship between Mr. Yamamoto and his wife, who is suffering from dementia. His loving patience remains the most striking element; it makes the film into a document of a humanism that frees itself of any trace of sentimentality as it observes shortcomings, weakness and mental decline with ever greater precision, grasping them in tandem as simply part of human existence.

by Kazuhiro Soda
with Masatomo Yamamoto, Yoshiko Yamamoto Japan / USA 2020 Japanese 128’ Colour Documentary form

With

Masatomo Yamamoto
Yoshiko Yamamoto

Crew

Director	Kazuhiro Soda
Cinematography	Kazuhiro Soda
Editing	Kazuhiro Soda
Sound	Kazuhiro Soda
Producers	Kiyoko Kashiwagi, Kazuhiro Soda

World sales

Asian Shadows

Produced by

Laboratory X

Photos

Kazuhiro Soda

Born in Ashikaga, Tochigi, Japan in 1970. He studied Religion at Tokyo University and completed a degree in Film Studies at the School of Visual Arts in New York. Besides making films, Kazuhiro Soda also writes non-fiction books and articles for film magazines.

Filmography (selection)

1995 A Night in New York; 10 min. · A Night in New York; 10 min. · A Flower and a Woman; 5 min. · A Flower and a Woman; 5 min. 1996 Freezing Sunlight; 85 min. · Freezing Sunlight; 85 min. 1997 The Flicker; 17 min. · The Flicker; 17 min. 2007 Senkyo (Campaign); 120 min., Forum 2007 2001 Intanetto de Kazoku ga Umareru (Internet Adoption); 59 min. 2005 Mafuyu no 111 (111 First in Winter); 20 min. 2008 Seishin (Mental); 135 min., Forum 2009 2010 Peace; 75 min. 2005 Soshite Musuko ha Korosareta (My Son Was Killed); 20 min. 2012 Engeki 1 (Theatre 1); 172 min. 2007 Senkyo (Campaign); 120 min., Forum 2007 2012 Engeki 2 (Theatre 2); 170 min. 2008 Seishin (Mental); 135 min., Forum 2009 2010 Peace; 75 min. 2013 Senkyo 2 (Campaign 2); 149 min. 2015 Kaki Kouba (Oyster Factory); 145 min. 2012 Engeki 1 (Theatre 1); 172 min. · Engeki 2 (Theatre 2); 170 min. 2018 The Big House; 119 min. · Minatomachi (Inland Sea) 2013 Senkyo 2 (Campaign 2); 149 min. 2015 Kaki Kouba (Oyster Factory); 145 min. 2018 The Big House; 119 min. · Minatomachi (Inland Sea); 122 min., Forum 2019

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2020