20 years after its release, why does "Linda Linda Linda" still hold up? Director Yamashita and Yukkyun talk

You were watching it when you were 10? And you chose it yourself?

That's right. I can't quite remember where I found out about it, but I chose it myself and took my mother there (laughs). That was the start of my going to art theaters.

If I were to watch this at age 10, I think I would feel like I was stretching myself too much. It would be five or six years later before I would finally understand how good it was.

I don't remember exactly what I thought when I was 10 years old, but thinking back, I realized that up until then I had only enjoyed watching films that depicted friendship between women.

You also like the movie "Shimotsuma Monogatari," right?

"Shimotsuma" and, in the case of the drama, "Watermelon." When I sing, I often sing about friendship. About someone you can talk to about anything, or that one friend you just love. But friendship isn't just about that kind of close relationship. Rewatching "Linda Linda Linda," I thought it was really great how the four people who get together for the school festival live show aren't all that close, but they develop a friendship as they spend time preparing for the performance.

When I was making it, I wasn't even thinking about friendship. The initial plan was to make a contest between high school girls' bands that would copy the Blue Hearts, and I thought it would be difficult to film. I pulled it in the direction I wanted to go, and removed all the dramatic scenes, such as no band battles. As a result, I feel like I was left with something very pure.

Even though they removed the youthful elements, it seems like something sparkling still remained. The four characters' appearances and the film's perspective are not passionate. The camera never gets close to their faces.

It was kind of a coincidence, I just didn't make the cut (laughs).

The four of them are shown spending relaxed time together, and I think that atmosphere is the main focus. I really like the scene where the four of them are talking on the school rooftop late at night, but even though it seems like an irreplaceable moment to the viewer, the four of them don't realize that.

I felt embarrassed by the straightforward youthfulness, so I stripped that away too, without even knowing if it was the right thing to do.

So when did you realize it was the right answer?

Recently? (laughs) I'm a bit of a twisted person, so I was embarrassed right after I made it. But as time went on, it started to feel like it was someone else's problem, and when I watched the film on its 10th anniversary, I was actually quite moved.

Ah, that's a good story.

Maybe it's just that I've gotten older and have a soft spot for youthful things (laughs), but perhaps this film has become a mirror that reflects the person I was at the time.

It's the same for the audience, because the film doesn't have a set idea of how it wants them to feel.

Because I'm not leading you.

That's why what you see may differ depending on your age when you watch it.

Although there are emotional moments when the Blue Hearts play, it's really just a high school girl's observational diary. I think that's what makes it such a powerful and enduring film.

The value of the Blue Hearts remains unchanged.

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