The Inland Sea

Lucille Carra's 1991 documentary follows the travel book Donald Richie wrote in the seventies about his journeys through the islands of Japan's Inland Sea. The documentary retraces the same route twenty years later. Passages from the book are read and set against the islands as they now are; the narrative asks how much of the traditional life remains and does not surrender entirely to nostalgia. Richie's voice accompanies the film. The images are calm and built on long takes. Music is used sparingly. Who it's for: those who like documentaries about Japan and travel writing. Who it's not for: viewers expecting a dense, informative documentary; this one is reflective and slow.