“Hanagatami” and my memories of Obayashi Nobuhiko

On passed genius director Obayashi Nobuhiko

I got a call from a producer asking me if I still want to do photography work for Obayashi Nobuhiko movie “Hanagatami.” I was trying to get on a set of this movie for some time. It was already a week since the film started shooting.

I said yes, but with one condition- I want to document it freely. I already knew that Obayashi had cancer, so I was eager to document what could be the last movie of the last genuinely independent director in Japan. The producer gave me the green light, and immediately, I was on a train to Karatsu, where the primary shooting of the film was taking place…

© Tim Gallo.

I want to share with you some of my stills and memories from that time. I am in no way a professional writer, so forgive me if it’s all over the place. I just want to process the passing of a person who had a significant impact on my creative life and, once again, reaffirm the values I learn from him through writing this article.

“Cinderella Boy”

Young second director and, apparently, the whole crew was struggling with finding the right camera angle.© Tim Gallo.

The doctor told Obayashi, who was diagnosed with cancer that he had 3 months to live…