Japanese-Brazilian Film Seeks Final Funding in Tokyo

Director André Hayato Saito presented his debut feature 'Yellow Chrysanthemum' at the Tokyo Gap-Financing Market to close the project's remaining funding gap. The event, held as part of the Tokyo International Film Festival content market, aims to connect the film with investors and distributors in the region.

The film is a co-production involving Brazil, Japan, Germany, and France. It is currently in pre-production after a multi-year development period. The production team includes MyMama Entertainment, One Two Films, Loaded Films, and Blue Monday.

Producer Mayra Faour Auad, founder of MyMama Entertainment, stated the team hopes to meet sales agents and distributors who can place the film across Asia. She noted that the film's dual cultural heritage makes finding an audience in Japan particularly important for the production team.

The story follows Erika, a 16-year-old third-generation Japanese-Brazilian living in São Paulo. The narrative is set in July 2014 during the World Cup. Erika feels like an outsider and actively rejects her family's Japanese roots. This rejection stems from a childhood trauma where her cousin and closest friend, Yam, disappeared during a traditional festival in the Liberdade neighborhood when she was seven. Her family has maintained a silence about the event ever since.

Erika's isolation changes when she befriends Bianca, a Black classmate mourning the death of her mother. Bianca's openness about her grief allows Erika to confront her own suppressed emotions. This dynamic forces Erika's family to address the unspoken absence of Yam.

Saito described the film as a continuation of his previous short films, which explore grief, memory, and identity. His short 'Amarela' features a similar character and setting. That short film competed for the Palme d'Or at Cannes in 2024, was shortlisted for an Oscar, and won best live-action short at Brazil's Grande Otelo Awards. It is part of a trilogy that includes 'Kokoro to Kokoro' and 'Vento Dourado.'

Saito said the story draws on his own childhood experiences in a Japanese-Brazilian household. He recalled asking his father where people go after they die and receiving a long silence in return. He explained that he views this family silence as a way to express love and respect while also hiding pain. He hopes audiences will see their own unspoken family dynamics reflected in Erika's journey.

The project has received recognition from international film labs. It won the TorinoFilmLab Production Award and was selected for Focus Copro at Cannes. The production team plans to shoot a key sequence in November at a traditional Japanese Toro Nagashi ceremony in Brazil.

Saito is also developing a second feature titled 'Little Faults.' This project followed an aging Japanese-Brazilian woman in Japan who commits minor crimes hoping to be sent to prison for the care and belonging she seeks there. The film earned a place in Turin's Boost IT Lab this year.