To Shoot Without Shooting

Colour, 35 mm
Japan, 1988, 25 min
Section: Tribute to Kihachiro Kawamoto

Synopsis

Ji Chang is without doubt an excellent archer but he longs to be the best in the world. Thus he seeks out a master living in town who is able, at a distance, to shoot a single leaf off a tree. Over the course of several years, the apprentice visits the master a total of three times, and on each occasion he leaves with a task which is to improve his proficiency. After mastering the techniques, as well as his ambition, there is nothing left but to head for the mountains, home of a legendary old man with almost supernatural abilities.... Derived from Chinese tradition, the story was written by Atsushi Nakajima. In this Bildungsroman, the director succeeded in preserving the story’s spiritual dimension.