Noriko is a Japanese student who is studying abroad in America when she receives news of a tragedy back home. Far from family, she sets up emotional barriers to maintain a sense of normalcy. A bartender named Bailey notices that something is off and talks with Noriko. Eventually, Bailey comforts Noriko as she breaks in her arms.

MEET THE CHARACTERS

NORIKO

A reserved international student from Japan who is reeling after receiving news of a tragedy. Since she is far from her family, she feels isolated while in the States. She puts up emotional barriers as a way to avoid dealing with her grief.

Noriko is inspired by the character of the same name from Yasujiro Ozu's Tokyo Story. Setsuko Hara's portrayal of a widowed daughter-in-law tending to her deceased husband's family was a key influence in shaping Noriko, especially her final scene with her sister-in-law where she excuses the behavior of the rest of the family.

BAILEY

A cheerful bartender working at an upscale bar that Noriko finds herself at. When she notices that something is wrong, she engages in chat with Noriko to figure out what is wrong. When the truth is revealed, Bailey comforts Noriko and assures her that everything will be alright.

Bailey is inspired by various people in my life. Her kindness is a reflection of how most people would are willing to comfort those who are suffering even if they are completely different.

DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT

In 1958, then Senator John F Kennedy wrote “A Nation of Immigrants” where he argued for a more generous immigration policy by looking at immigration in the context of American history. In it he says, “Immigration policy should be generous; it should be fair; it should be flexible. With such a policy we can turn to the world, and to our own past, with clean hands and a clear conscience.” (pg 65) This argument has become more apet due to the modern discussions of immigration in the US.

While Noriko is not an explicitly political film, the current discourse has recontextualized the film’s themes to be more politically prevalent than intended. The film is about showing compassion to someone from outside the US and comforting them during one of the darkest periods of their life. This is because at the end of the day, everyone on Earth is human and making a connection is possible in spite of the language barrier.

This philosophy can be seen in the decision to have the main characters to never speak the same language despite both sharing conversations with each other. It’s a decision to have the characters be more attuned to each others emotions and connect on a more fundamental level.

My goal with this film is for it to be a light in the darkness. Given how bleak it can feel about where things are headed for immigration in the States, we need to be reminded of the innate goodness of people. 

Tokyo Story (1953)

Directed by Yasujiro Ozu

From the character of the same name portrayed by Setsuko Hara to the restrained camerawork, a lot of Yasujiro Ozu's Tokyo Story inspired Noriko. Setsuko Hara's Noriko is a widow who takes care of her in-laws after her husband dies in World War II. Even though the family encourages her to remarry, she feels obligated to take care of the parents and always puts on a smile to ensure them that she's happy with where she is.

Much like Hara's Noriko, our Noriko puts on a happy face to deter people from thinking that she is unwell. It is something that only truly breaks when she's confronted by someone who wishes the better for her. In our film, it's when Bailey gives her a hug. In Tokyo Story, it's when her father-in-law tells her he will be fine.

Past Lives (2023)

Directed by Celine Song

One of the big takeaways from Celine Song's 2023 film is how restrained it is emotionally. While there are melancholic beats throughout the film, it isn't until its final moments that the audience is given a big emotional moment. This restraint and pay off makes its ending hit harder than it typically would have otherwise.

This restraint/payoff informed the structure of Noriko's script. We never see any big emotions until the final minute of the film when Noriko breaks down in Bailey's arms. Beyond performances, the camerawork will never give the audience the luxury of seeing Noriko vulnerable until the end.

Sometimes I Think About Dying (2023)

Directed by Rachel Lambert

Along with Ozu's Tokyo Story, Rachel Lambert's Sometimes I Think About Dying was another source of inspiration when it came to compositions. The film utilizes clean singles and negative space in a way that draws the audience's attention to the subjects in frame without being overtly flashy.

The general composition style of Noriko is designed to be as clean as possible. Shots heavily use negative space in order to convey Noriko's isolation and the minimalist approach helps keep compositions clean and cohesive for the audience.

Drive My Car (2021)

Directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi

The main influence from Ryusuke Hamaguchi's 2021 film comes more from the play within the film. In the film, Yusuke Kafuku puts on a stage production of Vanya. In the play, he has the actors from different nations speak in their native languages, relying on non-verbal cues and their scene partners emotions to react.

This is where the idea of having Noriko and Bailey speak different languages comes from. Not having the luxury of understanding what their partner is saying forces them to rely on their emotional response in order to react.

One More Time With Feeling (2016)

Directed by Andrew Dominik

On top of Nick Cave's music inspiring the tone of the story, Andrew Dominik's "One More Time With Feeling" informs the use of mixing black and white and color photography. The film uses color sparingly (mostly as a cutaway to photos taken on a 3D stills camera), but this shift to color occurs halfway through the film and is a jolt to the audience as they settle into the black and white.

Noriko only feature three quick shots in color. These shots are cutaways that create a rhythmic disruption and serve to accentuate the moment that Noriko receives news of the tragedy back home.

We are crowdfunding $8,000 to make Noriko a reality. This will cover the costs of paying our cast and crew, the production equipment, travel and lodging, and covering meals during filming.

HOW TO HELP

CONTRIBUTE & PLEDGE

In order to bring this film to life, we need to raise at least 80% of our budget in order to receive funds.

No pledge is too small. Whether its $10 or $100, every bit of support helps us in bringing this emotional story to life.

SPREAD THE WORD

Share our campaign or social media with your friends, family, or anyone who might be interested in Noriko's story. The more people are made aware of Noriko's tale, improves its chances of being brought to life.

You can follow us on Instagram @norikoshortfilm to receive updates on the filming process and beyond.

SOCIALS

Noriko

Instagram: @norikoshortfilm

Email: [email protected]

CJ Mirch - Writer/Director/Colorist

Instagram: @mirch_color

Paula Blanco Perez - Director of Photography

Instagram: @paulabpz

Nathaly Moreno - Production Designer

Instagram: @nathaly118

Maddie Roy - Graphic Designer

Instagram: @maddie_roy78

New Harvest Creative

Instagram: @newharvestcreative