Half Empty or Half Full

Half Empty or Half Full (Japanese: 半身反義) is a 2008 Japanese film directed by Kayo Takefuji. The production features a 90-minute runtime and utilizes a hybrid structure that combines documentary elements with fictional narrative.

Structure and Narrative

The film is divided into two distinct parts. The first half functions as a documentary focusing on the life and career of Tatsuji Yamagishi, a filmmaker known for his work on the official documentaries for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and the 1970 Japan Expo. In this segment, Yamagishi, who is living in a hospital following a stroke that left him partially disabled, is interviewed and filmed by director Kayo Takefuji.

Scene from the film — A scene featuring the subject of the documentary.

The second half transitions into a fictionalized narrative. Takefuji proposes an imaginative exploration of Yamagishi's life, casting actor Hideo Nishijima to portray a younger version of the filmmaker. This segment follows the younger character as he retraces aspects of Yamagishi's history, culminating in a scene where the character stands alone on a sand hill, prompting questions regarding the nature of freedom and fantasy.

Still from the film — Still from the production.

Cast

Tatsuji Yamagishi as Himself
Hideo Nishijima as Young Tatsuji Yamagishi
Yuki Nishimiya as Tatsuji's Wife
Akana as Girl
Gai Kashima as Boy
Kenji Date as Narrator