The Red Spot (Der Rote Punkt)

“…a German film with a distinctly Japanese feel.”

– Eddie Cockrell, Variety

TORONTO PREMIERE

Co-presented by the The Goethe-Institut

Aki (Yuki Inomata), a 21-year-old Japanese university student, is a young woman haunted by her past. 18 years previously while on a vacation in the Bavarian countryside her mother, father and infant brother died in a tragic car accident. All she has to remember her late family is a box of keepsakes and a map of Bavaria marked with a red spot where the accident occurred. Against her aunt and uncle’s wishes Aki journeys to Germany to find the place where her young life changed forever. There she is taken in by the Weber family and their rebellious son Elias (Orlando Klaus). An attraction immediately ignites between Aki and Elias, but Elias’ father Johannes (Hans Kremer) isn’t sure what this Japanese girl’s arrival will mean for his family.

The debut film of Japanese filmmaker Marie Miyayama, The Red Spot has been praised at film festivals worldwide, picking up the VGF Award at the 2009 Bavarian Film Awards and the German Film Promotional Award at the 2008 Hof International Film Festival.

Director: Marie Miyayama

Producer: Martin Blankemeyer & Miyako Sonoki

Screenplay: Marie Miyayama & Christoph Tomkewitsch

Cinematography: Oliver Sachs

Music: Helmut Sinz

Cast: Yuki Inomata, Hans Kremer, Orlando Klaus, Imke Büchel, Zora Thiessen, Toshihiro Yashiba, Nahoko Fort-Nishigami

Released: 2008

Running time: 82 minutes

Trailer /  Official Website /  Review (Variety)

Director’s Bio

Born in Tokyo in 1972 Marie Miyayama studied  Film Science and Creative Writing at Waseda University. Upon graduating she moved to Muncih Germany where she continued her studies at Ludwig Maximillian University and the University of Television and Film. While she has made numerous short films such as Where Is My Emotion? and between earth and sky, a documentary on Japanese stage actor and director Yoshi Oida, The Red Spot represents her debut as a feature film director.