The 21st Tokyo International Film Festival began on October 18th. The Competition section, one of the most renowned movie sections, began its screening with the Indonesian movie, “Under the Tree”. Director Garin Nugroho has in the past participated in TIFF as a judge, a rare case for somebody like him to be chosen to screen a movie in the Competition section. Of the ten films Nugrobo has made, five of his works including “Under the Tree” have been screened at TIFF?no doubt a regular at this festival.

The magical rituals of Bali Island color the scenes of “Under the Tree” where three women journey through life, death, and motherhood. The story unfolds almost as if a documentary which kept the audience at the tip of their seats.

　After the screening, Nugrobo, actresses Nadia Saphira, Ayu Laksmi and actor IKRANAGARA appeared for the Q&A Session. Enthusiastic questions such as “What does the title of the movie mean?” and “Did you have the three women in mind from the planning stages?” came from the audience. However, what grabbed the audience’s attention was Nugrobo’s explanation of how “over 80 percent of the dialogue was improvised by the cast”. IKRANAGARA added that “improvisation is a tradition in Balinese theater”, but it seemed as if this did not come so naturally to the up and coming actress, Nadia Saphira, who acted the role of a 19-year-old girl falling in love with a man 44 years older than herself. Saphira looks back on the filming of the movie and remembers that, “Improvising was something new to me as well as falling in love with a man more than 40 years older, but Nugrobo insisted that I be more alluring!” which filled the theater with laughter.

　The Q&A Session is one of the rare opportunities for the audience to directly ask questions to the director and/or the cast. Don’t miss this chance to talk to your favorite director or actor!