Mountains are sleeping giants. They bear the passage of time beyond human comprehension. But if you are fated to witness the birth of a mountain, you are blessed.
This animated story, based on actual events, evokes the look and feel of the Japanese art of Bunraku puppetry.
During the Second World War, young Yasuko goes to live with her grandparents in Hokkaido, northern Japan. When nearby Mount Usu erupts, her grandfather, postmaster Masao Mimatsu, decides to record its activity. As the realities of war creep into their remote village, the volcano continues to spew rocks and smoke. As Yasuko looks at her grandfather's drawings, she realizes that she is witnessing the birth of a new mountain, named Showa Shinzan.
Alison Reiko Loader combines 3-D computer animation with archival footage and drawings to present a story of nature's destructive beauty. These awesome forces provide the catalyst for personal transformation as a young girl learns about the world and begins to understand and admire the man who helps expand her awareness.
2002, 12 min 56 s
National Film Board of Canada Production
© All Rights Reserved, 2007
