Chat with Suwa Nobuhiro on 8mm Hachimiri Madness

When I was shooting Hanasareru Gang, I had one question in mind: Is it necessary to have a story for a film? If not, what would be the film about? Since then, I have been focusing on the acting of the characters, blending the elements of documentary style and improvisation. Hanasareru Gang does not tell a chronological story;there are also moments when the characters comment on their own actions. Apparently, one can see the influences from the French New Wave, in particular from Jean-Luc Godard and Alain Resnais. Even today, I am still asking the same question when I shoot my films.