“A Dedicated Life”

             picture from https://www.facebook.com/CinemathequePassion/

Driven by my curiosity about a writer’s story, I chose the film “A Dedicated Life” (全身小説家). I was not disappointed because the documentary gives a very detailed and truthful description of the writer’s life.

Japanese writer Mitsuharu Inoue must have been writing very captivating stories; otherwise, what else about him could have caused women to fall head over heels in love with him, given his mediocre appearance? And I wonder why these admirers of his did not mind talking in front of the camera about their secret love for him. Well, Mitsuharu Inoue gave fascinating talks keeping his audience totally enthralled. His charm was probably due also to his easy-going manner and the cheerfulness with which he carried himself even in his struggles against cancer attacks.

Mitsuharu Inoue must have been an admirer of Director Kazuo Hara himself, trusting and respecting him so much that he had allowed his own life to be filmed in such detail that even close-ups of the surgical operation are displayed on the screen. In fact, the camera has been following him almost everywhere. The movie ends with him retiring to his bedroom after bidding his friends goodbye. Could that shot really have been taken on the last day of his life? Or is it an editing technique of the director?

Though documentaries are sometimes criticized for not telling the truth, I have no doubt about the truthfulness of Mitsuharu Inouemust’s story as described in the film as the director has been careful to take in even very small details.