Synopsis
“Although the term “Johatsu” is widespread in Japan, it is regarded as taboo that nobody wants to talk about.” Arata Mori
Every year, thousands of people vanish without a trace in Japan. Known as the Johatsu, or “the evaporated,” they abandon their lives for various reasons, a troublesome relationship, mounting debts or threats from the mafia. Some get support from so-called “night moving” companies, which help people to disappear and start a new life somewhere else.
Press
“The effect is immersive” – Screendaily
Festivals
Selected for more than 10 festivals among others:
Thessaloniki iDF 2024 “International Competition”
CPH:DOX 2024 “Highlights”
ZagrebDox 2024 “Controversial Dox”
DOK.fest Munich – WINNER: “VIKTOR Main Competition DOK.international”
Krakow Film Festival “International Competition”
Nippon Connection Frankfurt “Nippon Docs”
Director's Biography
ANDREAS HARTMANN is a Berlin-based filmmaker. He received several artist-in-residence stipends, e.g., at Tokyo Arts and Space and Villa Kamogawa Goethe-Institut Kyoto. His third feature-length film A FREE MAN won the “Busan Cinephile Award” for the Best World Documentary at the 22nd BUSAN International Film Festival.
Filmography:
2017 “A Free Man” (BUSAN IFF 2017 – “Busan Cinephile Award”)
2015 “My Buddha is Punk”(Festival dei Popoli Florence 2015 – “Festival Highlights”)
2010 “Days of Rain”
ARATA MORI is a film director based in Berlin and Tokyo. He is the graduate of Fine Art at Central Saint Martins in London and 2022 grantee of Asian Cultural Council’s individual fellowship. In 2021, his creative documentary A MILLION premiered at the 64th DOK Leipzig.
Filmography:
2021 “A Million” (WP: 64th DOK Leipzig 2021 – “Camera Lucida”)
2012 “Camino Negro” (Short)
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