The origins of “The Inland Sea” are about as noble as all get out, as it originally began life as a loving account of living and traveling in Japan. Writer Donald Richie grew so utterly in love with the environment and people of Japan in 1971, that his travelogue of the country read a lot more like a love sonnet and was published as “The Inland Sea.” So utterly compelled was she, that director Lucille Carra approached writer Richie and twenty years later proceeded to adapt his short account in to a short form documentary.
“The Inland Sea” is a short but sweet documentary that spends an enormous amount of time fawning over everything that lies within Japan. Writer Richie and director Carra have a clear love for the land and people there, to where everything from the modern conveniences to the ancient landmarks are all discovered. The movie doesn’t spend too much time on one aspect, instead zeroing in one elements like the way people in Japan wake up late, their sense of community, their variety of cafes, and their irreplaceable landmarks.
There’s even a long discussion had with a spiritual man who expresses concern about maintaining his temple in the face of a growing new generation who’d rather plow things down rather than preserve what they have. The direction and cinematography (by Hiro Narita of “The Rocketeer,” and “Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country”) are absolutely breathtaking and while the film is a masterful examination of the country, anyone with a love of traveling will especially appreciate it.
Despite its age, “The Inland Sea” spotlights so much about Japan while also respecting its massive culture and long legacy. Richie doesn’t fetishize the country or its customs but instead show great respect and appreciation. Often times he can even convey a sense of envy as America has not and is still not as respectful of the past and traditions as they once were. Anyone that fancies themselves a fan of Asian culture or Japan truly need apply to this intimate journal.
Included in the Criterion Release is a printed essay written by author Arturo Silva; on the disc the features includes a brand new seventeen minutes interview with Lucille Carra recorded for the Criterion Collection in 2019. This insightful interview with the filmmaker of The Inland Sea showcases her approach to the project and the source of her inspiration. Carra explores how she was influenced by and motivated to make the film based upon reading the original source novel written by Donald Richie. It’s a must-see for fans of The Inland Sea. There’s a fourteen minutes new conversational interview conducted with Director Paul Schrader and Movie Critic Ian Buruma for the Criterion Collection in 2019.
The subject of the interview is “Remembering Donald Richie” and the featurette delves into the man behind the reflective account and travelogue of a visit to Japan which led to the film’s production. Finally there’s a ten minutes vintage interview with Donald Richie. Shot on film from The Inland Sea director Lucille Carra in 1991 (at the time of the film’s production), this is an essential view for anyone who loved the documentary feature. The author discuses his work, delves into the culture of Japan, the beauty of the country’s natural environments, and inspiration behind telling his story with The Inland Sea. It’s an essential interview for fans of the film.