Village of Dreams

is a 1996 Japanese drama film directed by YÃÂichi Higashi. It is the story of twin brothers growing up in post-war rural Japan, based on an autobiographical novel by Seizo Tashima. The film won the Silver Bear for an outstanding single achievement at the 46th Berlin International Film Festival.

Premise

An autobiographical story depicting the childhood of twin picture book authors, Seizo Tajima and Yukihiko Tajima. The twins appear as themselves in a prologue, after which the film flashes back to their youth in the rural outskirts of Kyoto shortly after the end of World War II.

At 9 years of age, Seizo and Yukihiko lead a normal existence: they go to school, play pranks and enjoy afternoons fishing and capturing small animals. However, they also have active imaginations. They envision witches in trees, imps hiding in undergrowth and talking fish. The film explores the juxtaposition of these magical realist elements and the simplicity of their surroundings, as well as their relationships with their mother (a teacher), their father (a civil servant), their landlord and the new kid at school.