The Inland Sea (1991)

In 1971 author and film scholar Donald Richie published a poetic travelogue about his explorations of the islands of Japans Inland Sea recording his search for traces of a traditional way of life as well as his own journey of selfdiscovery Twenty years later filmmaker Lucille Carra undertook a parallel trip inspired by Richies bythenclassic book capturing images of hushed beauty and meeting people who still carried on the fading customs that Richie had observed Interspersed with surprising detoursa visit to a Frank Sinatraloving monk a leper colony an ersatz temple of plywood and plasterand woven together by Richies narration as well as a score by celebrated composer Toru Takemitsu The Inland Sea is an eyeopening voyage and a profound meditation on what it means to be a foreigner