To the Long-Awaited Ueda Eigeki

The film "BAUS" is about to finish its run!

The movie "BAUS: The Cinema That Set Sail from Film" was filmed on location at Takasaki Denkikan in Takasaki City, Gunma Prefecture, and Ueda Eigeki in Ueda City, Nagano Prefecture.

You could call it a pilgrimage, but it started with me reflecting on what a cinema means to me, and after reading the note by Yagi-chan, the ticket taker and board chair of Ueda Eigeki, my desire to see BAUS at the theater was ignited.

I was swamped with work until after Golden Week, and I kept hoping it would stay in theaters until things calmed down, but eventually, the screening schedule disappeared. I thought, 'If I miss this, I might never get another chance!' so I adjusted my work schedule to make it on the final day and drove off to Ueda City.
I adjusted my work schedule to make it on the final day and drove off to Ueda City.
(I checked, and while it's not every day, they are still screening it!)

How I spent my time before the movie started

I've visited Ueda City a few times in the past, but it's been over five years since my last visit, and I don't remember ever just wandering around leisurely, so I decided to walk around and take photos as I pleased. It's times like these that I'm glad I have a camera.

Parking is important when wandering around town. Since I'm staying until night, it's essential to find a place with a maximum daily rate. I researched candidates beforehand and was able to park at the cheapest lot in my desired location.

Before wandering around town, I first checked the location of Ueda Eigeki.

Now that I've confirmed the location, it's time to wander the streets...

I thought about continuing to write, but the street wandering alone would make for quite a long post, so I'll make it a separate entry... Sorry.

Returning to Ueda Eigeki

It was about 30 minutes before the screening, so I finally headed inside Ueda Eigeki. I bought my ticket at the reception.

It was a thoughtful gesture by the staff to provide something memorable for those who came to watch. The 'sacred site' feeling is incredible.
After taking a quick look around the lobby, I asked the staff just to be sure, and then I was allowed to take photos of the lobby.

I can almost see Maho Toyota and Kaho standing there.

I also used to work at a movie theater (though it was a multiplex), so selling tickets and taking stubs were jobs I enjoyed. Nowadays, tickets are mostly online or issued via terminals. When I worked there, I enjoyed interacting with customers, like when regulars would ask me for movie recommendations, so I feel a bit nostalgic about that.

But I digress.

While pretending to be calm, I was actually excited inside as I took photos, and before I knew it, it was time for the screening.

The thrill of stepping into the theater was incredible. It wasn't just the emotion of knowing that person was here or that it was filmed here, but I was deeply moved by the fact that this is the place where the film was born.

I had already seen it twice—once at the advance screening at Takasaki Denkikan and once at the regular screening at Cinematheque Takasaki—but just like at Denkikan, watching it at the actual filming location was truly special. While Denkikan stood in for Baus Theater, Eigeki stood in for Inokashira Kaikan, so it appears in the film much more often. Even while watching the movie, I felt as if the actors were performing right there in the seats in front of me, as if I were watching a stage play. The sense of happiness was overwhelming.

A fleeting two hours.

It was the last screening of the day, so it was already dark outside. I wanted to soak in the afterglow forever, but since it was the final show, I hurried outside.
Feeling a sense of reluctance to leave and gratitude for the wonderful time I had, I took one last photo with my iPhone.

Ueda Eigeki is protected by the people of the town and those who love movies and movie theaters. The movie theater in the town where I was born closed a long time ago and was finally demolished the other day. With nowhere to direct my feelings about these contrasting situations, I prayed that the light shining in this town would never go out, and then I left Ueda Eigeki.

The place called a movie theater

The line in the movie about BAUS, calling a movie theater a window opened in the city, left an impression on me. It's a place that creates a vent in the closed-off nature of daily life. A place to peer into a world of the extraordinary from a box of darkness. Director Sora Hokimoto describes it as "abnormal," and I truly feel once again that it is a strange place indeed.
I liked watching the faces of the people heading there, as many of them were filled with anticipation for something. Yes, I can understand why it feels like every day is a school festival.

It's easy to imagine that maintaining a place like this isn't just about idealism. These days, not only are such places at risk, but even film production itself is precarious. Even so, there will never be a shortage of people who want to make movies, keep theaters running, and watch lots of films. Perhaps because I have friends and acquaintances in all three of those positions, my desire for this culture to never die out might be stronger than most.

But I don't intend for this to be a tear-jerker tragedy; I intend to be the person standing behind those who give the middle finger to an ending and push forward to start something new, cheering them on with a 'Keep going, keep going!'

Mr. Aoyama, his father, and his mother must be rejoicing by the water.

My highest praise to Director Hokimoto for making me realize these feelings.

Thank you for reading.