The Search for Onada

This is a fascinating story and here is an opportunity to hear it from the horses mouth.
Hiroo Onoda surrendered on a small island in the Philippines 30 years after his country surrendered to the USA to end the second world war. 
The mind boggles when you imagine the scenario.
But this doco is more than just looking at this aspect.
Here is a chance to hear from the islanders who were impacted by his secret campaign of guerrilla warfare, his fight for survival, driven by his loyalty to the emperor. 
It wasn't just 30 years of a monk in a cave, this was a soldier who performed his duty and continued his war. Mia Viaña Stewart has access to the people who lived on the island through her family and this presents a unique insider's/islanders view on the story.
The third intriguing element to this story is the question of why did the Japanese post Onoda on this island, what was the purpose, what was the strategic advantage of such posting? and this is where some conspiracy/myth elements can enter the story. Was there really a stash of gold to guard? or was it something else?
To find out the documentary needs to be completed and this is where you can help as Mia is running a modest pozible crowdfunder. This will be a love job but it still needs funds to complete

Resurrection Music MIFF

Love a good music doc and yesterday I did two
but gee although they were the same they were also entirely different.
Both were about resurrecting an old music and bringing it to a new audience of today. 

Harana,
about the dying art of the serenade in the phillipines.

The Stone Roses - made of stone
about the seminal Madchester Brit Band's reformation & come back gig

So both had a similar format. After revealing the music, they roll out the exponents of the music (rather old at this stage), they bond and play, then they rehearse for a finale show. That's pretty stripped back but sorta it essentially.

Music as feel good.
It's pretty hard to dodge if the musicians are good and these are two examples of just that!

Harana was like a nice cozy, fluffy blanket that slowly enveloped you until you realised you were warm as toast with a beaming smile on. And what a great feeling that is. The gentleness and fragility of the Haranaistas is totally engaging and you wonder if they are up to it. Some have not performed for 20+ years, but as their journey unfolds we are witness to a beautiful bond between them that grows and becomes infectious and before you know it you to are connected. Lovely settings, beautiful souls and sublime music and singing. And it's all in the name of love. Brilliant!

Made of Stone was a lot more up-beat, the music was more recognisable but you still had that warm feeling and that big big smile.  This doco didn't have a lot of material to work with which may come as a surprise but just have a look at one of their early interviews (1988 or so) and they just don't go beyond monosyllabic answers whilst looking supremely stoned. Most of the doco features the band reforming and rehearsing for the big come back concert but the way it is structured, using the archival footage sparingly and effectively takes us on their journey in a truly engaging way. Unlike the band in its heyday the film is not indulgent but gives you just enough of the music to please the die hard fans with one great extended track at the end which demonstrates the bands ease with 'the groove'. They have such a great tight sound for a four piece. The editing of this section is excellent and great example of the craft of cutting to music but still driving a story. Beautiful!

But it would be a disservice to the films and the filmmakers if it wasn't pointed out that the musicians, ie the people are very central to both these films. We get into their world, their extraordinary world.

and there is still a chance in Melbourne to see both these docs

Sun 4 Aug 9:00 PM ACMI 1

Tue 6 Aug 6:30 PM Greater Union Cinema 6