Impossible to Imagine

Impossible to Imagine-360P

Impossible to Imagine-480P

Impossible to Imagine

A film worth watching for its bold approach to life in Japan. Not the typical love story you'd find on screen but instead the typical one you'd find living in Japan. I watched this film at a festival in Kyushu and the audience was quite taken by the film and were at some points nodding in agreement with the main characters. It's indie, but well shot and with the filmmaker risking more than her money on this film you'll certainly learn a lot from this film--it's very humanizing in a place that may not seem human to a lot of people. I really hope this film gets the attention it rightfully deserves.

I live in Kyoto and this movie beautifully captures the essence of the city. Not just related to architecture, streets or atmosphere, but it also captures the characters and personalities of Kyoto people. The director has sensitive eye for small details, which are easy to miss even if you are traveling or living in Kyoto. If you visit Kyoto after watching this movie, it can feel like "I was already here". The main conflict on the movie is a really actual one, a discussion which emerges many times in real conversations too. If you want to enjoy an authentic and sensitive movie about the complicated relationship between tradition and modern in the contemporary era, I recommend this one.

A skillfully executed work, with beautiful cinematography of Kyoto, which explores the age-old questions of cultural identity and changing (or not) with the times. The dialogue between the protagonist and her love interest as they grew closer was especially natural and touching.

This is a simple story about a young woman who wants to keep her late mother's kimono shop running, but with the world changing, and competition from other distractions, it's become more difficult. A half-Japanese male "consultant" is recommended to her. He makes suggestions that seem to increase foot traffic amongst foreign customers, and in the process he and the young woman fall in love. There are hints at other storylines, but they don't really go anywhere. It doesn't seem any of the actors are professional, although the two leads were quite appealing. Although it is a "modern-day" story, something about it felt like a a wistful, nostalgic observation on a time that has passed us by. There are lots of lovely shots of nature and the soundtrack is generally traditional Japanese music (except when it's inexplicably punctuated by "modern" music--all of which distracted from the film). There were some uneven moments and uneven transitions, but it seemed clear that writer/director Felicity Tillack has a deep love for Japan and a deep sensitivity to its people. This film does have some charm, but the stakes are not high enough to be truly engaging. But there is a hint of promise in the filmmaker, especially when it comes to capturing beautiful nature shots.

Thank you for this brilliant film! One of the best things about this movie is that it's so relatable. I'm lucky to have live here in Japan for more than 25 years. Even if I live here that long, there are plenty of things I still don't know about. It is such a beautiful country with many refined traditions that I think needs to keep those alive to maintain their amazing culture. And this film shows a lot of those. Plus great learning about some of the most fascinating traditions here in Japan. Congratulations to everyone who made this film! Well done!!

Full disclosure: I'm friends with the director and I wrote a song that was used in the film. Japan's been a point of fascination for me - even an obsession - over the years. From afar, it felt like a place wholly unique and deeply rooted in tradition. Visiting it, I can attest that those feelings were true, and "Impossible to Imagine" exemplifies those traits so well with its protagonist, Ami. She holds so tightly to her identity and the ways of the past. Conversely, the country has a number of demographic issues (namely an aging population), and may need to shift towards outside influence. The secondary protagonist, Hayato, an Australian-Japanese businessman is a great avatar for this. He is more up front, adaptable, and sometimes a source of discomfort for Ami. The parallels continue with its director, Felicity Tillack, who is an immigrant to Japan herself. Her cinematic choices are distinctly Japanese (slow and thoughtfully paced) but her sense of humour is sharp and playful, I imagine more akin to her Australian heritage. Sometimes, amalgam projects can lose their identity, but this film felt authentic to both sides. I'm especially fond of the choice of locations and their representation; it was like I was walking the streets of Kyoto again. Admittedly, there are some rough spots, but I couldn't help but nod along with the film. It felt so much like the country I love and asked many of the same questions I did. "Impossible to Imagine" may be presented as a love story, but I'll remember it as a thoughtful - and important - look at the past and future of Japan and the tension therein.

Tillack's film plays Australian humour through a Japanese medium. Watching rigid Japanese property owners struggle with changes driven by global tourism was relatable but also funny on many levels. Crass global consumerism has its opportunities as well as it's pitfalls :) I enjoyed the romance and the interaction with different Japanese characters, who often dimensionalised after seemingly stereotypical introductions. Some of the characters such as the old man with creeping dementia show alot if unrealised potential. Tillack's future projects will hopefully capitalise on these idiosyncratic and unique characters.