L’ÎLE INVISIBLE 見えない島
A feature documentary film on the exclusion zone of Fukushima
In search of the spirit of the zone, a story of nature, of men, women, and technological defeat.
Written and directed by Keïko Courdy
1h27min /HD /Color / PIKA PIKA FILMS Copyrights 2020

After 5 years of filming, we arrive at the end of the post-production process. The film is soon ready to enter its final phase, distribution, and be launched in selection at international festivals.

The big news is that Ryuichi Sakamoto, who is very much engaged in Japan post-Tsunami and Fukushima, made me the great honor to offer me one of his music as opening and main theme of the film, with the legendary voice of David Sylvian (with whom he made the magic music of "Merry Christmas Mister Lawrence" with David Bowie). I have been dreaming of his music and his trust means a lot to me. Big thanks to his partner and manager Norika Sora.

The rest of the music has been splendidly composed by Seigen Ono, a friend composer and producer famous for his music of fashion shows of "Comme des Garçons". He has also worked as a sound engineer with Ryuichi Sakamoto, as well as with albums by Miles Davis, Quincy Jones, Gil Evans, Charles Ray, Herbie Hancok, David Sanborn, Henry Salvador, Arto Lindsay, John Zorn...

I am very touched by these collaborations, and i hope that these wonderful musics will bring a depth to the film, allowing people to realize the extent of the invisible devastation in Fukushima.

The sound mixing was done with talent and finesse by the remarkable sound artist and composer Luc Martinez in Nice. The color grading was done by the wonderful Pauline LeLay in the studio of Vladimir Nassyrkine, geek and talented artist supporting us. Title designs were made by artist Florian Schönerstedt.

Production : Pika Pika Films
Direction : Keïko Courdy
Camera : Keïko Courdy, Quentin Tyberghien, Ophélie Giomataris, Jimmy Kobayashi
Drone : Ryô Nawa
Editing : Giuliano Papacchioli
Sound Mix : Luc Martinez
Color grading : Pauline Le Lay, Vladimir Nassyrkine
Title design : Florian Schönerstedt
With the support of : Kiss Kiss Bank Bankers, Tokyo Prod, Coup de Pouce FIGRA
Copyrights Pika Pika Films 2020

The film was produced entirely thanks to you, and to the many people who helped on the spot ... Thank you to the Master, the boss of the inn Hirono Drive-in who gave me food, and a place to stay during all the shoots, introducing me to the secret life of the workers of Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Thank you to his wife who welcomed me after the death of her husband. Thank you to the workers who let me enter their daily lives. Thank you to Sonoko Noguchi who let me stay in her wonderful apartment of Ocha-House in Tokyo for every shooting since 2011.
It was a personal commitment for each of you, team members or friends, to allow an independent look on what was happening in this region. You all trusted me on the long term, and I thank you very much for that.

"The island" in Yakuza language is a territory.
The Invisible Island is an invisible territory that we try to reveal in all its complexity, far from clichés and a priori. A nuclear disaster and a mega-tsunami in a region leads to unimaginable things, invisible wounds that persist, broken human relationships, and a ghost territory. Nothing is settled. Despite what is announced by the government who wishes to present the region as "normal" to host the Tokyo Olympic Games in summer 2020.

"What has taken generations to build can not be rebuilt in a moment," explains Minako, a character in the film.

Tepco and the government have their agendas, but in nuclear crises, resilience is linked to unknown and uncontrollable factors, the time of nature to clean itself, and the time of people to heal and go forward.

This film is also the story of a civilization facing its own technological choices, a civilization that cannot master the monster it has created.

L'ÎLE INVISIBLE