“Paired Flowers” By Hannah Bon

Paired Flowers (組の花) is a modern interpretation of Takasago, a Japanese Noh theatre play.

The short film IN MEDIAS RUSH is an experimental cinematic journey into the depths of a manic mind. A poetic retro-sci-fi narrative unfolded in a string of unsettling tableaus that encapsulates the male protagonist’s ambiguous feelings about his birthday. While balancing between realities in his silent struggle with severe mental illness, we plunge into the film at a neatly orchestrated birthday party. The protagonist is accompanied by his girlfriend, and they are drinking cocoa on the couch in their mutual home. The setting breathes pure perfection, but through the voice over we sense that another reality is soon to be revealed. With one foot on the accelerator, he is heading towards the edge. The thematic focal point of IN MEDIAS RUSH is mental health problems among young adults, and the social/personal consequences related to the existing taboo on the subject. The film wishes to formulate an honest cinematic space in which words, sound, and image artistically interprets and articulates some of the perspectives related to especially bipolar, anxiety, and psychotic disorders. IN MEDIAS RUSH was nominated in the category 'Best Danish Short Film' at Copenhagen Short Film Festival in 2020. Original title: IN MEDIAS RÆS Directed by: Esben Persson -------------------- DK: IN MEDIAS RÆS IN MEDIAS RÆS er en filmisk rejse ind i dybderne af et manisk sind. En ung mand fejrer sin fødselsdag, mens hans tanker tordner afsted. Med en uvillig fod på speederen har han kurs mod kanten. FR: IN MEDIA RES IN MEDIA RES est un voyage dans les profondeurs d’un esprit maniaque. Un jeune homme fête son anniversaire tandis que ses pensées se multiplient. Malgré lui, il se dirige vers un point de non-retour. -------------------- Cast: Peter Alexander Bach & Amanda Overby Drew Director // Script writer // Set designer // Costume designer // Editor // Speaker: Esben Persson Photographer // Editor: Lasse Mølsted Producer: Latifa Lykke Ben Mabrouk Assistant producer: Cecilie Creutsberg Music composer: Martin Bejder Sound designer: Mads Hye Chief Lighting Technician: Rasmus Bruun Liboriussen VFX: Jonas Fonnesbæk Lodahl Colorist: Kristopher Paterson Graphic designer: Jakob Toft Kristensen -------------------- Shot on RED Monstro 8K with Lomo Squarefront Anamorphics.

"Paired Flowers (組の花)" is a modern retelling of "Takasago", a Japanese Noh theatre play. I made this film to honor the ancient Japanese theatre art, Noh, and created it in homage to my mother (who is also the actress and flute player in the film). Noh is a form of theatre involving music, dance and drama, originating in the 14th century and is the oldest theatre art that is still being regularly performed today.

"Takasago" (AKA: "The Paired Pines") is one of the most famous Noh plays. The original play is about an old married couple who live on separate islands and remain to have an everlasting love despite the distance between them. The couple are the deities of two pine trees (Takasago and Sumiyoshi) that grew from the same root and, although separated by sea, have never ceased being husband and wife.

My mother and I live in different countries and we rarely get to see each other in person. By taking inspiration from "Takasago" I created something to honor our eternal bond as mother and daughter despite our distance. This film is a celebration of my Japanese roots and a tribute to my mother and her craft as a musician.

It was only in the 20th century that the first women became professional Noh actors. Noh plays have always had plenty of female characters but they were only performed by men. This film is an ode to the powerful women that have made history with their involvement in Noh. In "Paired Flowers (組の花)", the Noh performer, Noh singer and Noh flutist are all women.

Hannah Bon - Director

Credits

Cast:
Sumiyoshi: Christina Wen
Takasago: Cristina Nishi

Voice Over: Yoa Mizuno
Noh Singer: Wakako Matsuda
Nohkan Flutist: Cristina Nishi
Noh Performer: Christina Wen

Producer: Hannah Bon, Andres Paredes
Director: Hannah Bon
Cinematographer: Matt Plaxco
Production Design: Wilson Pollacia
1st Assistant Director: Andres Paredes
1st Assistant Camera: Zach Stephen
2nd Assistant Camera: Jaxon Schriever
Gaffer: Tanner Nichols
Key Electric: Michael "Boy Anarchy" Ulmer
Key Grip: Jimmy Moreno
Best Boy Grip: Christina Velazquez
Best Boy Grip: Danny Roy
Best Boy Grip: Ted Nivision
Set Dresser: Tucker Pollacia
Construction Advisor: Cooper Pollacia
Set Painter: Taylor Tourek
Makeup and Hair: Brittany Oros
Costume Designer: Gwyn Conaway
Assistant Costume Designer: Rebecca Black-Gliko
On Set Wardrobe: Andrea del Rio
Kimono Rental: KIMONO SK
Production Assistant: Michael Lo
Production Assistant: Hengbo Zhang
Production Assistant: Davin Polchow
Storyboard Artist: Michael Lo


On Set Photographer: Keith Oshiro

Translators: Yoa Mizuno, Hikari Shinjo

Shot on location:
Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden Pasadena
Electric Pony Studios

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