On the Road: A Document

Dir. Noriaki Tsuchimoto. 1964, 54 mins. 35mm. In Japanese with English subtitles. A stunning and explorative adventure in cinematography and docufiction, Tsuchimoto’s On the Road: A Document was made via a commission from the Tokyo police. Yet Tsuchimoto ended up collaborating intensely with a taxi drivers’ union, much to the chagrin of his funders. The film played in Edinburgh and Florence and marked Tsuchimoto’s rise as a formidable new talent in global cinema.

Preceded by 

Tokyo Metropolis

Dir. Noriaki Tsuchimoto. 1962, 29 mins. Shot on 16mm, Tsuchimoto’s never-aired depiction of Tokyo’s restive youth was made for the half-hour educational travelogue series Discovering Japan (other editions were contributed by Susumu Hani and Kazuo Kuroki). Backed by an eclectic jazz soundtrack, a roving, omnivorous camera follows young lives through a rapidly industrializing Tokyo, passing from homes to workplaces to restaurants and nightlife.

Tickets: $15 / $11 senior and students / $9 youth (ages 3–17) / discounted for MoMI members ($7–$11). Order tickets. Please pick up tickets at the Museum’s admissions desk upon arrival. All seating is general admission. Review safety protocols before your visit.