With the release of the home video version of acclaimed animated film In This Corner of the World (Kono Sekai no Katsumi ni) last September 15, fans all over the world are clamouring for an extended cut — which, unfortunately, was not included.
READ: 12 Things you should know about ‘In This Corner of the World’
Director Sunao Katabuchi intended for the film to run 150 minutes in length, but had to cut 30 minutes due to budget constraints. Though the film is still complete without the extended cut, fans are hoping to see what those remaining minutes contain.
Now there’s no need to fret because Katabuchi announced via Twitter that he is currently working on the film’s extended cut after receiving the go signal from producer Taro Maki.
①『この世界の片隅に』DVD&BD、アマゾンなどで「監督の本来のプランどおりの長尺化が実現できていない」という理由で☆を少なめに入れておられる方もおられるようですが、ありがたいお声であり、しかしごめんなさい。今回発売されるのはそれとは別のもの、昨年11月12日以来劇場公開されて→
— 片渕須直 (@katabuchi_sunao) September 13, 2017
→②きたバージョンをブラッシュアップしたものです。この長さで完成された映画はすでにたくさんのお客さんたちの中に居場所を見つけたものであり、たくさんの映画賞をいただいてきたものでもあります。この形はすでにひとつの完成形なのです。当初作成した絵コンテに沿ったより長尺であるバージョン→
— 片渕須直 (@katabuchi_sunao) September 13, 2017
→③は現行のものとはまた別なもうひとつの映画として完成することになるでしょう。そしてそのための作業にも実のところすでに着手し始めているのですが、それはこの8月からスタートしたばかりです。本年7月までは半年以上かけて現行版のブラッシュアップ作業を徹底して行っていました。この先→
— 片渕須直 (@katabuchi_sunao) September 13, 2017
→④長尺版の作業もさらに充実させていきますが、それは一朝一夕に完成するような安普請なものではなく、もっとじっくりと作り上げたいわけです。それなりに長い時間をいただくことになります。そして、繰り返しになりますが、長尺版の完成後にも現行の映画は意味を持ち続けるだろうと思っています。
— 片渕須直 (@katabuchi_sunao) September 13, 2017
So while we are patiently waiting for the extended cut, there are four things we would like to happen in the remaining 30 minutes:
1. Recovered Japan
The film illustrated Japan during the war, specifically the bombing ofHiroshima and Nagasaki. The protagonist used to live in Hiroshima. Visiting it again after the bombing showed that the once beautiful city is now in ruins. It would be great to see how Japan rose from the ashes and recovered its beauty.
2. Harumi II
One of the heart-rending scenes in the film is the death of Harumi, the niece of Suzu. It remains as one of the gripping realities of war, and her death almost drove Suzu to hopelessness. But before the film ended, we saw a little girl from Hiroshima being taken in by Suzu and Shusaku. They brought her home with them to Kure.
To see her grow in her new home is not only symbolic of how Japan will recover, but how Suzu will eventually be redeemed, especially in the eyes of her sister.
3. Suzu and Shūsaku
Due to the war, Shusaku was always away from home and viewers only saw snippets of his time with Suzu. In those short moments, viewers were able to see their relationship develop — somehow. But it would be exciting to see their relationship as husband and wife flourish now that the war is over.
4. Suzu and her lost right hand
One of Suzu’s greatest losses was her right hand. Suzu is an artist and used her skill to express herself, to communicate with others, and to cope with life. What becomes of her and her love for drawing during post-war Japan is definitely a must-see.
Let us know what you think the remaining 30 minutes might contain via our comment section!