Far away from home: Film “Rock the quake” By Mario Ćužić from Tokyo at MFF

31/07/2012 Mediterranean film festival

In the section FAR AWAY FROM HOME, as a novelty at 13th Mediterranean Film Festival, we’ll present a special screening within the off program, a documentary film “Rock the Quake”. The author of the film Mario Ćužić is really far away from home. Originating from the village Višići near Čapljina, Mario was born and grew up in Toronto. He finished a part of education in Zagreb and in 1999 he went to Tokyo where he’s been working as an English lecturer, and he’s been dedicating his free time to film.

I’ve started to be engaged in film since 2006, when I was a correspondent for a few web sites that wrote about free fight. I was really inexperienced and my first film project was about school sport in Japan (when I see it now it gives me the creeps). Later I went to Tokyo underground Rock n Roll scene. I love Rock n Roll so it suited me perfectly. Film “Rock the Quake” shows the organizing the charitable concert for the purpose of collecting money for the region of Tohoku in Japan that was struck by the earthquake and tsunami.

What intrigued you to document that event?

I lived in Shibuya. In a minute walk distance from my house there was a Rock n Roll bar THE TREASURE CHEAST opened. The owner was Chris Penfold, one of the activists in Support the underground and the organizer of the concert ROCK THE QUAKE. At that time I was looking for a project and that was it. The film presents a group of musicians, tattoo artists and bikers that set off to Tokyo to work and collect donations at the rock scene. We’re planning to screen the film here in September or October. That will be a bedlam.

ROCK THE QUAKE comes from Japan to MFF, what does it feel like?

I can’t describe how excited I am! Not just me, but a lot of people around the film. They call me and mail me congratulations all the time. This is a big time event for me. My grandma will be able to come to see the film. This is not just some festival to me. I still can’t believe that I’ll wake up in Višići and drive to Široki to see ROCK THE QUAKE, after I drink my coffee in Čapljina, of course.

You as a western man in the eastern world?

I came to Japan in 1999 and fell in love with this country, people and the culture. It’s been 13 years now. Japan is a mixture of my Croatian and Canadian culture. In terms of politics and economy it’s like Canada, but it has some tradition, some things that are traditional which remind me of our parts. This program FAR AWAY FROM HOME is cool because this is what I see all my life with our people. Also, I have to say that it’s nice to be of Croatian origin in Japan. Everyone knows about Croatia through the sport, but nobody has met a Croat until I showed up, and even though I was born in Canada I’m considered to be a Croat because my name is Mario Ćužić.

Documentary film in Tokyo, Japan in general?

As regards Japan, this is a great environment for working in film. People are kind and they appreciate efforts. I’m working on a documentary about Tokyo rock scene at the moment. Everybody went crazy when they found out that you accepted “Rock the Quake” at MFF. My friends Japanese rockers are calling me to congratulate. They are really delighted.

Did you succeed to have an insight in our festival and your opinion?

This is my first MFF. I wanted to go a few years ago and if I can remember well the Festival used to be in September so I couldn’t come because of my job. It’s an honour to be a part of it and it’s my dream to make a film project in Herzegovina or Croatia. For that reason I’m very pleased because this is a great opportunity for cooperation with our filmmakers.

SEE SOME OF MARIO’S WORKS

2012