Children at the rooftop cinema directed by 刷場 侑紀

The idea for “Children of the Rooftop Cinema” came to me when I received chairs from a closed movie theater.

I imagined a rooftop... if there were a cinema there, it would show films reincarnating endlessly, with children watching them, clapping or booing. That image sprang to mind. Are these children gods, angels, fallen angels, or demons...?

Incidentally, the children on the rooftop are all disabled individuals. They are students I teach clay animation to. We filmed during their summer vacation. They participated with great enthusiasm. In the scene making old-fashioned handmade ice cream, each ate the ice cream they made themselves. It was very hot, and they all ate it, saying “Delicious! Delicious!”

Furthermore, the three characters undergoing reincarnation were made diverse in race, gender, and age.

They are a young Black man, a young Asian woman, and an elderly Asian man. All three are my friends. When they heard about this film project, they agreed to help.

The staff also volunteered, with friends joining in. It's a very low-budget production, but it brought together people who all love movies. Filming proceeded smoothly without major issues.

Highlights include scenes featuring rows of crowded bus stops, an old projector being cranked, and the appearance of rare paper film—a format made of paper that briefly gained popularity only in Japan during the early days of cinema.

This is a film I truly hope people of all ages, races, and backgrounds will see.