The film “Cabes” of the Patriarch of Japanese cinema, the author of the “gloomy samurai” Jodzi Yamada, was released on Russian screens. This is a drama about the Japanese, whose husband was arrested before the Second World War for dissident. She had to raise two children alone. The only person who dared to help the "family of the enemy of the people" is the awkward student Torah. His role in the film was played by the popular Japanese actor Tadanobu Asano. The one who played Genghis Khan in the film Bodrov Sr. Mongol. The Russian premiere with the artist met the correspondent of The New Times
What did you think by reading the script of the movie "Cabi"?
How am I going to play it? Firstly, I never came across such characters-honest, devoted, touching and something ridiculous. My hero and I have almost no common features, so his image had to be invented from beginning to end. Secondly, I never starred in films about the war and generally know a little about that period. Therefore, I understood that I was unlikely to handle it on my own. But I really wanted to work with Yoji Yamada, and I hoped that he would tell me where to move. In general, I was scared and curious at the same time.
You need to conflict
The theme of World War II and the repressions that took place in the late 1930s and early 1940s are of interest in Japan?
I would not say that. We have quite few books and films on this topic, and they are not very popular. Many Japanese would have preferred that war at all. Even in school textbooks on history about the Second World War, almost nothing is said. In any case, teachers try not to mention why it began, and most importantly, how it ended. We forgot about the war and declared ourselves as absolute pacifists. But, in my opinion, this is wrong. The struggle is the normal state of society. Progress is impossible without it. We conflict with our brothers, parents, loved ones, friends, and there is nothing wrong with that. If you close your eyes to problems, they will never have a solution. You need to conflict. It is simply desirable that strangers are not drawn into your conflict. And of course, I would prefer ideological disputes than the military.
Do Japanese suffer from a sense of historical guilt?
Yes, this load is felt even now. But the protective reflex is apparently triggered in us, so my generation is not at all interested in the war, and the generation of my parents considered it forbidden, indecent talk about the war.
How did your family survive the second world?
After the war, my grandmother married an American soldier, so they explained all my childhood that, if not for the war, I would not be. Logically, she fell in love with the enemy, but love is not interested in politics.
Genghis Khan is very nice
If you have no common features with the hero of the movie "Cabi", then what do you have in common with Genghis Khan?
I'm not so arrogant to compare myself with him. Although as a person I really liked him. People often consider him a ruthless despot, and he seemed very pretty to me. He never betrayed his loved ones, and I would like to borrow this line from him. By the way, there were many Russians on the set. So now I know how to say “Khalaso” (laughs). In general, in the international group, where people from Russia, Kazakhstan and China mixed, it was very interesting to work: apparently, patriotic feelings were aggravated, so no one was at enmity, but everyone tried to show themselves from the best side. We built a Babylonian tower, and it seems that we succeeded.
Was it difficult to find a common language with foreign colleagues?
No, after some time we all became friends. But you know what surprised me very much on the set of Mongol? People who were brilliant professionals often turned out to be dismissed, and those who did their work somehow remained in their places. I tried to understand why this is happening. And it seems that I found the answer: the Russian people, and Sergey Bodrov is no exception, act under the influence of not reason, but emotions, therefore, if a person is pretty, they leave him at work, despite the fact that he is a sloppy. And in the same way they can dismiss the unpleasant one, but a good employee from a business point of view. This paradox remained insoluble to me. I will consider it a secret of the Russian soul (laughs).
Did you like the shooting of battles?
Yes, however, first I had to learn how to ride on horseback. The Japanese are not strong in riding, so I studied from scratch. First I went to a private school in Tokyo, then trained in Mongolia for two months and, finally, our stuntmen trained me on the set. But fights on swords did not cause any problems. After filming, Kitano in the "Zatuchi" is no longer scared for me.
Was it scary there?
When Kitano or another is the same professional, it’s not scary at all. But when you find yourself face to face with the same amateur as you, goosebumps begin to run along your skin. He will not kill, but can cripple.
Did you miss Japan on the set of Mongol?
You will be surprised, but no. At some point, I just reconciled with the thought that I would live with these people for the rest of my life. The prospect did not seem gloomy to me.
