Renowned Japanese director Daihachi Yoshida returns to the screen with Teki Cometh, his latest film adaptation, premiering at the Tokyo International Film Festival 2024. Known for his distinct style and love for literary adaptations, Yoshida offers audiences a story of aging, reflection, and complex fantasy, blending reality with imagination in a way that has earned him acclaim throughout his career.
Based on Teki, a novel by famed Japanese author Yasutaka Tsutsui, Teki Cometh follows an elderly, retired French literature professor (played by Kyozo Nagatsuka), who fills his time with occasional guest lectures and frequent daydreams. In a moment of introspection, the professor questions his existence, fearing the approach of his “enemy”—a concept left open to interpretation but rich in symbolism. Yoshida’s love for Tsutsui’s writing and his deep connection to the character’s struggles have turned this film into a personal project that explores aging, solitude, and self-awareness.
Revisiting Literature with New Insight
The journey of Teki Cometh began during the pandemic when Yoshida, confined to his home, returned to the familiar comfort of old books. Among these was Teki, a book he first read in his 30s, but which struck him differently as he revisited it at the age of 60. “When I read it again, I felt it was closer to my own life now,” Yoshida shared. “I had lost people close to me, and I was increasingly aware that I wouldn’t live another 50 years.” This realization transformed his view of the story, igniting a passion to bring it to the screen.
This is not Yoshida’s first literary adaptation, having previously adapted novels into films like Funuke Show Some Love, You Losers! and The Kirishima Thing, the latter winning multiple awards including Best Picture in Japan’s Academy Awards. Through Teki Cometh, Yoshida explores how our interpretation of stories evolves with age, influenced by personal experiences and changing perspectives.
A Unique Aesthetic Choice
One of the most striking elements of Teki Cometh is its black-and-white cinematography, a rare choice in modern cinema but one Yoshida felt was essential for the story. “The monochrome approach gives the film a restrained feel,” he explained. “It matches the quiet, introspective life of the protagonist.” Interestingly, Yoshida described the black-and-white visuals as rich in imagination, inviting viewers to interpret the story in ways they might not have with color.
The choice also adds a sense of timelessness, aligning with the protagonist’s nostalgic yet isolated lifestyle. Yoshida reflected on the beauty and depth of monochrome, admitting it was an experiment that exceeded his expectations. He humorously questioned why other filmmakers continue to use color, given the unique qualities that black-and-white films can offer.
A Story of Food, Simplicity, and Loneliness
Though focused on an elderly man’s reflections, Teki Cometh also features quiet, meditative scenes that add depth to the character’s everyday life. From simple routines like preparing coffee to brief encounters with old friends, these scenes highlight the deliberate pace of a man contemplating his mortality. Yoshida admitted that the black-and-white format presented challenges, particularly in filming food, which he feared might not look as appetizing. However, his team’s exceptional work with props and staging surprised him, with food scenes turning out unexpectedly rich and visually appealing.
These details amplify the main character’s solitude and the fragility of his existence, resonating with anyone who has considered life’s brevity.
Interpreting the “Enemy”
The film’s title, Teki Cometh, hints at an ambiguous “enemy,” a concept central to both the novel and Yoshida’s adaptation. In traditional Japanese culture, the “enemy from the north” often symbolized Russia. However, Yoshida explained that in Teki Cometh, the enemy could be anything—a goal, a fear, or a life challenge. For the professor, it may represent aging, the inevitability of death, or even his internal struggles.
“Everyone, regardless of age, has an enemy to face,” Yoshida shared, adding that it is these adversaries that give people a reason to push forward, find meaning, and live purposefully. This interpretation gives the film a universal appeal, as it allows viewers to see reflections of their challenges in the protagonist’s journey.
Building Characters Rooted in Reality
Yoshida collaborated closely with veteran actor Kyozo Nagatsuka, who plays the professor with sensitivity and depth. Having studied and worked in France, Nagatsuka brought a real-life connection to his character’s background in French literature. According to Yoshida, this was purely coincidental, but Nagatsuka’s familiarity with French culture added an authentic touch.
Yumi Kawai, known for her role in Extremely Inappropriate on Netflix, plays a young literature student whom the professor encounters in a rare outing. The two characters connect through their shared passion, creating moments where reality and fantasy intertwine.
A Tribute to Aging and Imagination
For Yoshida, Teki Cometh is more than just another adaptation; it’s a deeply personal reflection on aging, the creative spark, and the blend of reality and imagination. The film blurs the lines between what is real and what exists only in the mind of the protagonist, symbolizing the delicate balance of life and the inevitable passage of time.
While Yoshida did not intend to create a film about dementia or memory loss, he does explore how the elderly often escape into fantasy as a way of dealing with isolation. With Teki Cometh, Yoshida hopes to show audiences that these fantasies and reflections are as much a part of the human experience as tangible reality, especially as one ages.
As Teki Cometh premieres at the Tokyo International Film Festival, Yoshida hopes that audiences will find both personal and universal meaning in his work, seeing reflections of their battles, aspirations, and fears in the story of a professor who seeks purpose even as he contemplates the end. This film, with its subtle beauty and thoughtful approach, promises to leave a lasting impact on those who experience it
