Please Respond, Cotton Town (2025)
Iwama’s second feature-length film is set in a small seaside town and explores the struggles and hopes surrounding the declining local textile industry. The story follows the director and producer as they immerse themselves in the town’s realities—its drifting atmosphere, industrial challenges, and moments of discouragement—while attempting to capture the spirit of genuine craftsmanship through filmmaking. In essence, it is a film about making a film. The project began when local officials from Gamagōri, Aichi Prefecture, approached veteran TV producer Toshio Tsuchiya with a proposal to highlight the town’s textile industry. Rejecting the idea of a typical promotional film, Tsuchiya invited Iwama to create a bold, unprecedented work. The production faced major obstacles: the town’s prevailing sense of resignation, the textile industry’s cautious stance toward filming, and deeper structural issues. Yet the film eventually unfolded in unexpected ways, culminating in a remarkable and unexpected conclusion that exceeded both the director’s and producer’s expectations. Upon its premiere at Shinjuku Cinema Qualité, word-of-mouth praise led to extended screenings. The release then expanded nationwide, reaching art-house theaters in Nagoya, Osaka, Kyoto, Toyohashi, Utsunomiya, Hakata, Karatsu, Akita, Gifu, Yamagata, Tottori, and Ichinomiya. The journey of the film continues. Critics and cultural commentators praised the work: fashion historian Kaori Nakano described it as “a testament to transcendent collaboration, where the dedication of filmmaker and subjects resonates across time,” while physician and author Minoru Kamata called it “a quietly passionate documentary where people change, towns change, and miracles happen. An extraordinary film.” Film director Keishi Ōtomo praised the work, saying, “It has been a long time since I encountered a film that made my chest tremble, my heart leap, and gave me the courage to hold on. I want to watch it three more times to savor this worldview.”
Narration is performed by Yukino Kishii, recipient of the Japan Academy Film Prize for Best Actress for her role for Small, Slow but Steady. With a voice woven in a singular, plaintive cadence, she beckons the audience into a labyrinth of story and emotion. (First production by Gontents)
Official Website https://watanomachi.com