Oda Kaori (b. 1987, Osaka) is a filmmaker and artist whose work explores human memory through image and sound. She completed a Doctor of Liberal Arts in filmmaking under Béla Tarr in 2016. Her films Aragane, Toward A Common Tenderness and Cenote premiered at major festivals including Yamagata, DOK Leipzig and IFFR. She received the inaugural Nagisa Oshima Prize (2020) and Japan's Minister of Education New Face Award for Fine Arts (2021).
Aragane
Aragane
Aragane
Synopsis
‘Aragane’ is a Japanese word for small pieces of coal or stone excavated from a mine. The mine that I filmed in Bosnia bears this name. I found the mine while location scouting for another film. I was attracted to the place, the people, and the sheer amount of physical labour done under harsh circumstances in eight-hour shifts every day under the ground.
‘They are not visible. We know we can function because they risk their lives and dig coals underground, but we don’t pay much attention to this in our daily lives. If my film could offer a chance or moment for people to feel what it is like underground and to remind ourselves of where our electricity comes from, that shall be something I can give back to the mine and miners who allowed me to be with them for the film.’- ODA KaoriFestivals & Awards
2015 Yamagata IDFF
2015 Doclisboa
Director's Profile
ODA Kaori
Filmography
2010 Thus A Noise Speaks
2011 The Wanderer
2012 The Thread of Red Cocoons
2014 Conniving
2014 Lost in Bosnia
2015 Flash
2015Aragane
2017 Toward A Common Tenderness
2017 Theory of Colours: Prologue
2017 Ten
2018 Tune
2018 Wind Church
2019 Cenote
2019 Night Cruise
2021 Night Train
2022 Karaoke Cafe BOSA
2023 GAMA
2024 Underground
2025 Recording with Mother 'Working Hands'
