Movie
ラーゲリより愛を込めて FROM SIBERIA WITH LOVE
It’s 1945, and World War II has just ended. A glacial winter, reaching 40 degrees Celsius below zero... Day after endless day of merciless labor, fueled only by scarce rations. Amidst the men dying off one by one in the hellish Soviet concentration camp is Hatao Yamamoto. “You must not give up hope. The day of domoy (going home) will come,” Yamamoto implores consistently to the despairing captives.
Under the dire conditions of the camp, there are ceaseless fights among the Japanese captives. Yet come what may, Yamamoto continues to cheer the men up regardless of rank and character. His heartfelt actions and beliefs gradually warm the frozen hearts of his fellow captives. Yamamoto believes through everything that he will someday go home to be with his wife and four children.
Eight years after the war, a postcard arrives from Yamamoto’s beloved wife. In the letter, passed through rigorous censorship, is written, “I am waiting for your return.” Tears stream down Yamamoto’s face as he thinks of his wife, raising their four children on her own. Everyone felt the day of domoy was near, but meanwhile, Yamamoto is subjected to illness. His health deteriorates rapidly, but Yamamoto never gives up hope that he will one day be reunited with his family. Aching to do something for their dear friend, his comrades set out to accomplish an extraordinary feat under the scrutiny of the guards.
Memory of the World Message from Sakubei Yamamoto ~ A miner-painter’s link to the future
世界記憶遺産 山本作兵衛からのメッセージ ～炭鉱絵師がつなぐ未来～
At the age of seven, Sakubei Yamamoto entered a coal mine with his parents; this was the beginning of his 50 year career at the Chikuho mines in Fukuoka prefecture. The mines were pitch black and humid, and the threat of collapse or flooding was never far from the miner’s minds.
After retiring, Sakubei found work as a night guard. From the age of 66, he first began documenting his life and times working at the coal mines in essays and paintings. He left behind a legacy of over a thousand paintings, as well as 70 notebooks and diaries. Of this collection, 697 pieces were chosen for inscription on the ‘Memory of the World’ register. This program examines the life of Sakubei, and the incredibly detailed documents he left behind of the Chikuhocoal mines. What sort of figure was he, and what message does he convey to us through his artwork? Sakubei’s life and art is revealed through the stories told by those connected to him.
It got Certificate of Creative Excellence award at US International Film & Video Festival in 2014
日本一だった石炭生産地、福岡県・筑豊に生まれた作兵衛（1892-1984）は、およそ50年間炭坑夫として働き、その記憶を1000枚以上の絵に残しました。
暑く暗い地の底で石炭を掘る男と女の姿、道具、共同風呂やこどもたちの遊び、縁起や迷信。作兵衛が描いたのは、炭鉱で働く人たちとその家族が暮らす共同社会のすべてです。
ユネスコ（国連教育科学文化機関）は2011年、作兵衛の絵と日記など697点を「世界記憶遺産(※1)」に登録しました。日本での登録第１号です。日本でもまだ北海道釧路で、海底のさらに下から石炭を掘り出しています。
そしてほとんどを輸入に頼っていますが、日本の電気エネルギーの四分の一は石炭による火力発電が担っています。 国民一人あたりにすると、1年間に１トン以上の石炭を今も使っているのです。
番組では、かつて炭鉱で働いていた女性たちの証言、釧路やベトナムの炭鉱の迫力ある採掘現場の映像もまじえ、なぜ名もない山本作兵衛の絵が世界に認められたのか、また作兵衛は未来に何を伝えたかったのかを解き明かしていきます。
在七歲的時候，山本作兵衛在七歲的時候就與他的父母一起進入礦坑，這是他50年礦工生涯的開端。礦坑的生活十分黑暗與潮濕，擔心崩塌的恐懼一直存於礦工的心中。山本作兵衛結束礦工的工作後，繼續工作，擔任夜間的警衛。直到66歲時，他才開始使用煤炭來作畫。作兵衛的一生創作了近千幅的煤炭畫作，其中的667幅畫作會在節目中播放。除此之外，節目中還會介紹山本作兵衛的生平事蹟，以及他在筑豐碳坑的生活。透過本節目，觀眾將能瞭解碳坑畫師－山本作兵衛畫作中的故事。