An independent film that's creating a buzz in the Japanese film industry is about to premiere. Directed, written, and based on a novel by Lee In-cheol, the 30-minute short film "High Heels: A Fairy Tale Born from Obsession" will be released nationwide on June 24th at Human Trust Shibuya and other theaters. Starring Kikuchi Rinko, the film also boasts a strong fashion element, with special costume assistance from CHANEL and shoe production assistance from MIHARA YASUHIRO. The film's staff includes a team of leading figures both in Japan and abroad. Cinematography is by Ishizaka Takuro (Rurouni Kenshin trilogy), editing is by Ueno Soichi (eight-time Japan Academy Award winner for Best Editing), and special effects art is by Hyakutake Tomoo (Attack on Titan and Parasyte). The opening animation is by filmmaker Hanzaki Nobuo, known for his work on music videos for artists such as Mr. Children. This film marks the theatrical debut of a young director, just 28 years old, and features a roster of world-class creators, making it exceptional for a short film to be screened in cinemas nationwide.

The film is set in the distant future of 4015 AD. Over time, humanity's endless desires have threatened to destroy the world, and in order to survive, people have chosen to abandon their desires and become androids. The protagonist is Kai, an android shoemaker of indeterminate gender. He makes custom-made shoes for customers, but one pair always ends up being just a little off in size. Kai convinces the customer that he will solve the problem, and once again faces the high heels, but the situation takes an unexpected turn. This is a fairy tale of the future, set in motion by androids who, due to a sudden error, regain their human element: desire.


Director Lee In-chul was born and raised in Korea, before moving to Japan at the age of 19. He didn't have strong connections with the film industry or creators, and when it came to making this film, he directly contacted each person involved. The reason such a distinguished cast, led by Kikuchi Rinko, who said, "I decide who will appear based on the script and the director's personality," came together was likely due to the character of the protagonist Kai and the charm of the director, who is projected onto Kai. In this interview, we spoke about the creation, production, and current feelings of the director as the film nears its release.


--I was captivated by the worldview of the film and watched it many times. I was drawn into the beautiful visuals of each cut, and the director's attention to detail was evident everywhere. Yet it's not a cutting-edge film that overwhelms art, and the story is solid, so 30 minutes feels like more than enough... How did the story for this film come about?

Three years ago, I was in Cannes for the film festival. I walked around the city with my wife, who is also a producer, every morning, and that day we went into a shop I don't usually go to. As we were spending our time casually, one day, I happened to notice a pair of yellow high heels by Mihara Yasuhiro that she was wearing, and an idea suddenly appeared, and the outline of the story was born. I searched for ideas in my head, piecing together the fragments of a story, digging deep into the content, and the script was completed in about a year.

The period around 2,000 years ago saw the birth of Christ and significant cultural and economic development. 2,000 years into the future, humans, who sought efficiency in everything, have abandoned their original desires and chosen the most efficient way of life: androids. They have given up all their desires: their commitment, their curiosity, and their freedom. The film depicts the moment when the emotion of desire is rekindled in such an android.


--The film features an all-star cast and some of Japan's leading creators. How did you go about casting and assembling the team?

I didn't have any connections or connections, so I contacted people I wanted to work with directly. As it was an independent film with a low budget and a short film, they read the script and agreed to the request. It was a miracle that all these people, who are active around the world, were able to fit their schedules into a five-day shoot.



Casting for the lead role of Kikuchi was initially planned for a male. However, they were unable to find anyone who perfectly matched the character of Kai... I suddenly thought, "There's no need to stick to a male character," and when I imagined a genderless Kai, Kikuchi Rinko's name was the first to come to mind. I gave her the script, she agreed, and we met for the first time just before filming began. It's a unique role—a genderless android living in a distant future—but she seemed to have a deep understanding of Kai and the world of the film, having simply read the script without me having to explain much.

Being surrounded by people with far more experience in filmmaking than I do, I learned a lot. Each of us took responsibility for our assigned roles and worked toward the same goal: to create something great.


--Locations and film sets are probably important elements in portraying a unique worldview. How did you decide on them?

We visited many locations during location scouting. We came across a building that perfectly matched the atmosphere we were looking for, and the moment we saw it, we immediately decided, "This is the place to shoot!" The building used for filming is the owner's home, so it perfectly captured the realistic, lived-in feel. The original concept was to have many rooms, including a plant room, Kai's workshop, and a shop, so building a studio would have been impossible given the budget. That's why we were so surprised to find that the building we chose for filming was just as we'd imagined, with its number of rooms, antique furniture, and gardening.

There was also a strange incident during filming. During the Obon festival in August, a heavy rain warning was issued for the filming location, but miraculously, no rain fell in the area where we were filming, allowing us to complete filming on schedule. It was such a strange feeling, but "High Heels: A Fairy Tale Born from Dedication" was born out of such fortunate coincidences and connections.


--What was the main message you wanted to convey through this film?



Rather than conveying a message, my goal was to give viewers an opportunity to think. Rather than giving answers, I want each person to feel something and actively think for themselves.

In today's world, where there is an overabundance of information and entertainment, I think there are many people who simply accept what is given to them passively. The way they repeat simple tasks without thinking is like an android, and this also ties into the writing of the film's screenplay.

I worked on this project hoping to create a work that would induce the human behavior of "thinking."



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