The Inland Sea (1991) - August 13, 2019

[Scottie]

In 1971, author and film scholar Donald Richie published a poetic travelogue about his explorations of the islands of Japan’s Inland Sea, recording his search for traces of a traditional way of life as well as his own journey of self-discovery. Twenty years later, filmmaker Lucille Carra undertook a parallel trip inspired by Richie’s by-then-classic book, capturing images of hushed beauty and meeting people who still carried on the fading customs that Richie had observed. Interspersed with surprising detours—a visit to a Frank Sinatra–loving monk, a leper colony, an ersatz temple of plywood and plaster—and woven together by Richie’s narration as well as a score by celebrated composer Toru Takemitsu, The Inland Sea is an eye-opening voyage and a profound meditation on what it means to be a foreigner.

DIRECTOR-APPROVED SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES

New, restored 4K digital transfer, supervised by cinematographer Hiro Narita, with uncompressed stereo soundtrack on the Blu-ray

New interview with director Lucille Carra

New conversation between filmmaker Paul Schrader and cultural critic Ian Buruma on author Donald Richie

Interview with Richie from 1991

New English subtitle translation

PLUS: An essay by scholar Arturo Silva

New cover by Tatsuro Kiuchi

https://www.criterion.com/films/28747-the-inland-sea