French cinema legend Catherine Deneuve is currently in Japan filming “Spirit World,” a captivating fantasy-drama directed by Singapore’s own Eric Khoo.
A Journey from Life to Afterlife
In this enchanting tale, Deneuve portrays a singer who tragically passes away while on tour in Japan. However, her spirit continues to live on, embarking on an extraordinary quest to rediscover the essence of humanity in the after-world.
Filming in Takasaki
The city government of Takasaki, an ancient town nestled between Tokyo and Kyoto, graciously revealed this exciting project. Production kicked off over the weekend, with filming expected to take place for 10 days before moving to other locations.
City mayor, Tomioka Kenji, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “I’m pleased that a movie featuring Deneuve is being filmed in Takasaki. I’m more than willing to cooperate during the filming process.”
An International Collaboration
This film is a three-way collaboration between companies from Singapore, Japan, and France, with the Singaporean authorities providing financial support. It’s based on an original screenplay and is currently in the process of securing a sales agent. Fans can anticipate its completion by 2025.
A Legendary Career
Catherine Deneuve’s illustrious career spans decades, boasting remarkable performances in films such as “The Umbrellas of Cherbourg,” “Belle de Jour,” “Dancer in the Dark,” and “Indochine.” Despite a minor stroke in 2019, Deneuve has bounced back and continued to grace the silver screen. She recently starred as Bernadette Chirac in “Bernadette” and in “Funny Birds,” executive produced by none other than Martin Scorsese.
The Accomplished Director
Eric Khoo, a renowned writer-producer-director, leads the helm of “Spirit World.” Khoo’s directorial journey began in 1995 with “Mee Pok Man” and has since included Cannes competition film “My Magic” and the Japanese-themed animation “Tatsumi.” He previously filmed parts of his 2019 movie, “Kazoku no Recipe” (also known as “Ramen Teh”), in Takasaki.
Apart from “Spirit World,” Khoo is also producing “Orang Ikan,” a creature horror film set during World War II, directed by Indonesia’s Mike Wiluan. This international co-production, involving Singapore, Japan, Indonesia, and the U.K., delves into the story of a Japanese soldier and a British prisoner of war who find themselves stranded on a deserted island, only to discover they are not alone.
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