Eastern (2010) is a re-enactment, by locals who live
near Zempukuji Park in the suburbs of Tokyo, of the final
scene in Sergio Leone’s ‘Once Upon a Time in the West’.
Thirty non-professional actors and actresses were involved
half playing the role of Charles Bronson, the others
Henry Fonda. Each time an edit occurs a new face is
seen. There is little continuity, but shot for shot there is
a close imitation of Leone’s original dual between a man
wronged and his oppressor
.
Sergio Leone and Japanese director Akira Kurosawa
were locked in a legal battle over the copyright of the
origination of what came first the Samurai movie or
the Western (Kurosawa won). The cultural translations,
interpretations and mis-interpretations at work in ‘Eastern’
look again at this debate of how East meets West and
how we view each others’ cultures.
With no budget for this project what was immediately
available was used as props and wardrobe, even the dolly
(an essential part of Leone’s approach to filming) is made
from rollerskates and plumbing tubes. With passersby
walking in and out of shot, the film an intended
homespun feel. The music was made by two local
musicians improvising having heard Morricone’s score. |
