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Race Around The World - Season 3 Episode 5 - TBA englishsub fullfilm Secret Engagement
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00:046 filmmakers
00:08Making 10 films in 10 countries
00:16This is Race Around the World
00:20I think that's the one
00:25Welcome to Race Around the World
00:27I'm Zan Rowe and tonight something different
00:30Six filmmakers converged on the same country
00:34Japan
00:3640 million tourists a year
00:371 million of them Australian
00:39And a land teeming with stories
00:42Alright, are we ready to meet this week's judges?
00:47Returning to the judging panel
00:48The most trusted and fearless voice in Australian cinema
00:51Her feedback was a reminder that honest debate about film
00:55Is how you actually get better at making them
00:57We're so glad she's back
00:59Please welcome Margaret Pomerantz
01:03Our next guest represents a type of filmmaking
01:06That didn't exist when this show first started
01:08He went from tradie to TikTok to TV sets
01:11He built an empire
01:13And somewhere along the way
01:14Got a tattoo on his ass in Japan
01:16Please welcome one half of the inspired unemployed
01:19It's Jack Steele
01:23And finally, our series regular
01:26He's been asking when Margaret is coming back for four weeks
01:29And now I can finally say
01:30It's this week, John
01:31Stop asking
01:32Please welcome John Safran
01:38Margaret, you were here in week one
01:39Have you been watching ever since?
01:41Yeah
01:41Any highlights?
01:42Yes
01:42I think it was Lucinda, wasn't it?
01:44Who did the one about Australian men and sex
01:50Jamaica
01:51In Jamaica
01:52And I would have chosen that without a doubt
01:56I thought it was maybe a bit too confronting
01:59For all these testosterone judges
02:02Mainly Bruce Beresford
02:04Oh, was it?
02:05Yeah
02:05Oh, Bruce
02:05No, alright
02:06Okay
02:09All the filmmakers have been really quivering in their boots
02:11At the thought of
02:12And I quote
02:13Being ripped a new one by Margaret Pomerantz
02:15But is that just showbiz
02:17Getting feedback about your films?
02:19Obviously
02:20Anybody who puts themselves out there
02:22Has got to be prepared for criticism
02:24And that includes me, you know
02:26I knew that, you know
02:28At least 50% of people in the audience
02:31Are going to hate me
02:32And you've got to be prepared for that
02:34Oh, no, that's not true
02:35Even the ones that hate you love you
02:39Jack, is the arse tattoo in Japan
02:41The most committed piece of content you've ever made?
02:44Oh, I'd say it's up there
02:47I didn't know what it was going to look like
02:49Until it was finished
02:49And it was a monkey
02:51About literally like that big
02:53On my bum
02:54Just looks like a blob
02:55It's just
02:56Yeah, my girlfriend loves it
03:00Margaret, have you ever seen anything Jack's made?
03:03No, I haven't
03:04But I will
03:05Oh, come on
03:06I want to see the tattoo
03:10I'll give her that backstage
03:12Not on you
03:13That's for the green room afterwards
03:15Yeah
03:17Alright
03:17Six races
03:18Let loose in Tokyo
03:20And after 40 days circumnavigating the world solo
03:23It wasn't just a reunion
03:25A secret special guest turned up with some advice
03:28Let's see what unfolded
03:30Hey mum, I'm in Japan
03:39I'm in Tokyo
03:40And I'm matching the plants
03:42How cutesy
03:43In my pink little kimono
03:45Holy shit, I'm in Japan
03:47There's a train coming
03:49There's a train going, look
03:50Oh
03:51Okay, that's mad
03:52I've just seen an otter cafe
03:54A cat cafe
03:55A mini pig cafe
03:58Everyone's here
03:58So I cannot wait
04:00To go and drink 40 beers
04:02With all the other races
04:04It's Will
04:05A wild Will
04:06In the flesh
04:07Possibly ordering a kebab
04:09Because that's what you do
04:10When you're in Japan
04:12We're halfway now
04:14So all of us being together
04:16I think it will like re-energise us
04:18What's up?
04:20It's so funny
04:21On reality TV
04:22I always saw when people said
04:23We're like a family
04:24I was like
04:25What?
04:25And now I completely get it
04:27No one understands
04:28What we're going through
04:29Except all of us
04:30Oh my god
04:31He's here
04:32He's here
04:33Hello, hello
04:34Come in
04:35Oh
04:35Oh
04:36Oh
04:37Oh
04:37Oh
04:37Oh
04:37Oh
04:39Oh
04:39Oh
04:40Oh
04:41Oh
04:43Oh
04:56Oh
04:59Pick
05:06Oh
05:08Oh
05:09Oh
05:12Really
05:15Oh
05:19Oh
05:20Oh
05:20Oh
05:21Oh
05:30He's gonna have a saki with me. Yeah, let's all do it. Yeah, I'm scared. Okay.
05:37L'chaim. L'chaim. Oh, Swoisha.
05:40Come back. Muzzle. Get in my bed. All right. Okay. Halfway mark. How are you all feeling?
05:50Well, I don't know, hey. Like, it feels good. I mean, I think I'm the first McGuinness to go to
05:56Greenland or Hannah Island, so I'm kind of running off the high of going to these places I would have
06:02never been to before.
06:04It feels like we just started, but it also feels like I've been doing this for, like, seven years.
06:08Oh, my God. Actually, I think this is, like, an exercise in just being quite embarrassed and vulnerable, especially on
06:15national TV, getting ripped to shit by Maggie P.
06:17Yeah, yeah. Or, like, Bruce Beresford.
06:20Yeah, totally. But there's gonna be criticism, and it's not always gonna be fun.
06:25Do you think we do or we don't have a thicker skin than your series?
06:29Yeah. Um, I think we did have a thicker, like, there wasn't this expectation that you weren't gonna get trashed,
06:36really.
06:37Like, sometimes it's good. Also, it's iconic. Like, we can have that clip for life.
06:41Yeah. Margaret Pomeran's absolutely very into us.
06:43I know. That's a bucket list item.
06:45Yeah, it's cool.
06:45Yeah. I think I've been pretty lucky. Most of the criticism I've copped has been pretty constructive, I think, which
06:50I've really appreciated.
06:53And what's the criticism that's really stuck with you?
06:56Oh, just not being able to focus, I guess. It's like a consistent thread.
07:00You know, you have these subjects, then you'll pivot to something else halfway through. And I was just wondering, do
07:06you just get bored?
07:08I struggle to, like, just realise that maybe one thing is more powerful than another and I don't have to
07:15include it.
07:16Like, I think, with my rhino film, I included, like, I got a call and this bloke was like, there's
07:20a rhino poaching thing happening right now, like, fuck, in five minutes.
07:25And I was like, that was such a crazy moment. And then I included it, but maybe I didn't have
07:29to.
07:30Yeah.
07:30Bruce Beresford Week.
07:32Oh, yeah.
07:32That told me a new arsehole. Something about, I think, because he, um, so his criticism was, like, I think
07:38he called me, like, the lady hung up on sex or something.
07:42The whole thing is, I found, much more compelling than the first film with the lady's sexual problems, which, to
07:49me, fades into the distance.
07:52I like Lois' common denominator stuff. And sometimes I worry that it's kind of like, oh, exactly what he said
07:58is what I'm terrified people will think of me.
08:00And that after the next day, I felt like that could have derailed me, but I just tried to be
08:04like, oh, no, no, like, I've got to just do my own thing.
08:06Because that was your advice, was like, just lean into your own thing.
08:09It is difficult to work with what's the point.
08:13Look, I actually failed to see the point of this film, really.
08:20Sorry, I'm mean.
08:23I'm like, I don't know what to do with that, Margaret.
08:25But I feel like with your piano one, the point was sharper. It was just a more interesting risk.
08:35That rule where we had to be in the film made me go like, well, fuck you, I'm going to
08:38be in my film and I'm going to make it so sad.
08:41Yeah, but can't you see how you being forced into it did, like, this film would not have been good
08:46if the framing wasn't what you said.
08:49You know what I mean?
08:50Using your own life and your own experience, you're just kind of really enhancing your chances of the story kind
08:56of coming alive.
08:58You know what I think about from 97 is I still think about when I chickened out of something.
09:04I remember...
09:05What did you chicken out of?
09:06Oh, in Lebanon.
09:07I wanted to do a story and there was a lot of things about, like, Salman Rushdie had got a
09:12fatwa put on it.
09:13There was a lot of these things about threats from the Arab world.
09:16So I wanted to do this kind of jokey thing where I, like, try to get killed by a Muslim.
09:21And I was going to do things like blindfold myself and try to cross the road.
09:25And I just kind of chickened out of it for some reason.
09:28And I still carry that around going, I really should have done that.
09:33So go out and do something different.
09:35You just kind of regret what you chickened out of.
09:37Like, you're so going to regret it.
09:39Like, you're going to be sitting at some job bidder in a cubicle at the ABC.
09:45And then you'll be sorry.
09:47So if you had one final word of advice to us before going for the next 50 days?
09:52Oh, I think you're all funny and I'd much prefer you on camera.
09:55It was such a change week last week because you were, like, you were just forced to have a perspective.
10:01And even when you think you weren't having a perspective, you kind of were.
10:05Having said that, Margaret's coming back.
10:07Oh, really?
10:08No, you're lying.
10:09She's going to trash you all next week.
10:11By going, why are all these people on camera all the time?
10:14Don't worry.
10:15I'll frigging, I'll go to the, yeah.
10:17I'll go to the mat for you guys.
10:19Go to the town.
10:20I expect you to jump over to that chair.
10:28Wow.
10:33I do regret that yellow suit in retrospect.
10:37Margaret, as you saw, there's a little bit of fear around you returning to the judges panel.
10:41Oh, no.
10:42That's cruel.
10:43That's all.
10:44How does it feel, though, to have feedback that's really stuck with our races from week one?
10:48Yeah, well, I don't want to be cruel, but I've got to be honest.
10:53You know, but then I'm not always right.
10:56You know, so they've got to take on board what they think will help them and reject the shit from
11:04my mouth.
11:05But you're usually right.
11:06I mean, let's be honest.
11:07No, no, no, no, no, not always.
11:09No.
11:09And I, you know, I've made mistakes over the years with films.
11:13Well, time to find out if Japan broke anyone.
11:17And to briefly enjoy the novelty of everyone being in the same time zone.
11:23Konnichiwa!
11:26Okay, Jayden, I really hope you have some budgie smugglers on.
11:30Yes, you do.
11:31I've just seen some clarity.
11:32I was quite concerned.
11:34Look, there's two things I know about Australia, Zan.
11:37And one is that they love seeing a sloppy rig in budgie smugglers.
11:40And two is they do not need to see any more of me than that.
11:45Lucinda, was seeing the gang exactly what you needed at this time?
11:48It was the best ever.
11:50We needed it so badly.
11:52And when we walked in and we all hugged each other, that was like a real, real emotional moment for
11:58all of us.
11:59Tell me honestly, did you see the sun come up after that reunion?
12:02Yes, Elliot and I walked out of this spa and it was 5.30am.
12:06And I reckon I've done that only a handful of times in my life.
12:09Wow.
12:10And yeah, we went to Tokyo drifting.
12:14I'm scared!
12:21Are you okay?
12:23Yeah, yeah, yeah!
12:26For the first time in a long time, I had to tell someone else to like reel it in, you
12:30know what I mean?
12:30I think frames had the need for speed.
12:34Okay, enough talking about Japan.
12:36Who wants to see it?
12:40Let's check in with our first filmmaker.
12:42And it's Lucinda, who picked up the pieces after the reunion, travelled north of Tokyo and began conducting another one
12:48of her famous investigations.
12:50Lucinda, were you riding high from your big win last week?
12:53Well, yeah, it's always a good feeling when you get good feedback.
12:56And now I feel vindicated after, um, Jamaica has had its time in the sun with Margaret liking it.
13:01So, I'm back. I'm ready for whatever.
13:04Well, this is Japan.
13:05As only Lucinda can see it, here is Woman V Bidet.
13:19What do all of these buildings have in common?
13:21Well, they're all toilets.
13:28This is like Troye Sivan's house in the Octocal Digest Tour.
13:37And it's no surprise. In Japan, hospitality is paramount and every human need is considered.
13:42Even the really gross ones that people don't usually talk about on TV.
13:46For the average person, having toilets this amazing literally everywhere is like a dream.
13:50But for me in 2018, I experienced...
13:55Just roll the tape.
14:12It was my first and last ever bidet until now.
14:17Okay, we're currently driving to a place called Kiyotsu Gorge Tunnel,
14:21which is three hours north of Tokyo in Niigata.
14:24And I'm going here because I have caught wind, so to speak, of an incredible toilet that I must check
14:30out.
14:30Because it's been, what, eight years since my ass was ever touched by toilet water.
14:34Bar an unfortunate splash back.
14:37Every now and again.
14:38Because I think if I'm going to get my bidet virginity retaken,
14:41it has to be somewhere in nature for calming properties.
14:44Because I fear this might push me to the edge.
14:46Kiyotsu Gorge Tunnel was open to the public in 2018 as part of a project to revitalise rural, depopulating areas
14:52through art.
14:53And what could be more revitalising than a peaceful crew with a view?
15:00And with no further ado, it was time to pull down my big girl pants.
15:07It's time.
15:08It's time.
15:21It isn't time.
15:23It's time.
15:25It's time.
15:26It's time.
15:27It's time.
15:28You've got nowhere.
15:29Why does it go so long?
15:29It's time.
15:32Why does it go so long?
15:34Oh.
15:35Oh.
15:36Oh.
15:36Oh.
15:37Okay.
15:38What was the rest of my eye?
15:38Ooh.
15:43500,000 that's allegedly how many people watch the ABC on Sunday nights at 7 30. 500,000 people
15:52watching one woman pull her pants down and face her fears and if I inspire even one Australian
15:59to do the same thing then my trip to Japan has not been in vain
16:16I'm so all for it you can hear the audience laughing and it's captivating and it's weird and it's it's
16:22about but what's the right way to say it bidet well I say bidet bidet that's very posh well that's
16:28the
16:28way that French said my dad's a big bidet fan but I've used it once before in Japan and it
16:37was the
16:37scariest moment of my life so I am yeah I can relate to this a lot do you know my
16:43initial
16:43reaction in the first couple of scenes was I've seen this before had you seen the vim vendors film
16:51perfect days oh um the one about the shibuya toilets yeah I didn't watch it but I knew about it
16:59what is
16:59this the video that you're talking about it's a movie and it's an award-winning movie it's wonderful
17:06and it's about a man that cleans toilets in Tokyo did that distract you though because he was
17:12visiting those particular art toilets it did because of the images right because they're in
17:17the vendors film and I thought oh oh you've seen it and it's a bit of a rip-off of
17:24his ideas
17:26this is turning into live media watch I love it I'm nervous I'm getting sweaty but did you like
17:33the film well I mean I actually didn't believe a lot of it have you ever used a bidet um
17:41no I haven't
17:42never well no because if there's an option not to use it I don't use it and when I was
17:47in Japan
17:48I chose the option not to use it why is it being so evasive about saying what you like about
17:53it
17:53well I don't I never had the experience that Lucinda had on a bidet I'm really they've always been
18:00extremely pleasant
18:06are you saying she as well as stealing it from Will Wenders or whatever she also she faked that
18:13vim vendors are you also saying that she faked getting it up her bottom is that what you're saying
18:19oh wow you're a thief and a faker I love this Margaret thinks that you don't truly fear bidets
18:27sorry bidets I'm telling you it's just like so much pressure I don't know if I have it on like
18:32the highest setting but it's like entering a chakra it's not it's not okay also do they have like a
18:39laser on them because it hits a perfect spot every time it's like it's quite scary but we
18:44still don't know what Margaret thinks of the film yeah what do you think Margaret squeeze it out if I
18:50may use the kind of oh it's a bit difficult hey I really liked your other one well Lucinda uh
18:59thief
18:59and faker as proven by Margaret the um I think with your other films there's been a cool juxtaposition
19:07of like there's something not highbrow but you're sort of your little your lowbrow thing is sort of
19:14bouncing off something that's of cultural stakes so I just felt with this one it would have it would
19:22have been funnier if we would have understood more about Japan and like why are they so obsessed with
19:28toilet like for instance if you would have explained your is it bidet or I don't want to get in
19:33trouble
19:33with you how do I say it I don't want you to get it I look honestly call it what
19:36you want
19:39imagine if you would have explained your bidet experience to some poor Japanese person along
19:44your journey and he's just looking at you because he just does not understand why you're telling that
19:49story that would have been hilarious you know what I mean would you have wanted and I ask you this
19:53Margaret because I know how big a fan you are of fast and furious would you have loved seeing
19:57Lucinda Tokyo drift and race through the streets of Tokyo I would have loved it maybe um some fast
20:05cars in the next country you go to we'll see where we send you I love a fast car watch
20:09this face
20:11okay time for another film set in an entirely different part of Japan the next racer is Elliot
20:18who rumour has it pulled an all-nighter at the reunion before hightailing it to Osaka
20:23how did you pull up after that big night Elliot it was a rough night to be fair I was
20:29like I'm
20:29getting up I'm gonna be depressed and hungover on the train to Osaka because I found a story in
20:35Osaka and that's where I wanted to go well-planned well-planned hangover travel well you're the only
20:40racer to take us to Osaka so let's see what you found there this is forgotten Osaka
20:49I'm gonna be terrified after all of the time in the morning I was born in the morning I did
20:52not have a
20:53like me that I think I'm a problem when I was in everyday today I do not have a
20:57like in the in-show in the Schule from Italy to have a huge
21:15Oh no.
21:16Sorry, sorry.
21:17I am just so trained.
21:19We have got six packs
21:20from one pack
21:21from two pack
21:21from one pack.
21:24It's in Australia.
21:27I'd like to present it when I tell you
21:29it's him.
21:30I am my favourite one.
21:31I am the primary one for the 12 pack.
21:34He is a pretty great one.
21:35I am the german side pro boxer.
21:39His skin is 51.
21:41He is the greatest one.
21:42I am the one for the 12 pack.
21:4613 years ago, I was growing up at theántine
21:49and when I was selling about the pandemic,
21:52I was working for myself
21:53as soon as I wasn't
21:54the people that were shopping
21:58among other people
21:59and so I was looking for a lot of money
22:03who was having issues
22:04and it was creating an unequivAlice
22:10and other people
22:12I'm a friend of mine, and I'm a friend of mine.
22:16I'm a friend of mine, and I'm a friend of mine.
22:19It's a unique style.
22:23It's an industry that I can't even go to the store, but I can't even go to the store.
22:27If you want to come to the store, you can't do it.
22:34I can't do it.
22:35It's a business that you're doing.
22:38You know what, you can do.
22:38What are you doing?
22:45I'm doing so good.
22:47You have to be careful.
22:49You can do this.
22:50Here is the center, and it was an asset.
22:56So there was a place where everyone is working.
22:59But now we have a lot of new things to do.
23:04So now we have to work on the interior.
23:18My friend.
23:20My friend.
23:22Huh?
23:23Hi.
23:52I thought it was really, really good.
23:55Really good.
23:56The storytelling, that guy is unbelievable.
24:01The way he showed you around and his character,
24:03he was great value and he made the video so special, I think.
24:08Yeah, I did too.
24:09I think it's terrific, Elliot.
24:11But why?
24:12You know the guy with the door down the back to the shop.
24:16Why did you not explore what sort of a shop it was?
24:21I don't think that was his daughter, Margaret.
24:26What?
24:28I think it was a house of ill repute.
24:30Oh!
24:32Yeah.
24:32All right.
24:33Oh, God.
24:34Oh!
24:35Oh, that went...
24:36Same.
24:37Yes.
24:37Right out of my head.
24:39And the other thing that...
24:41Sorry.
24:42Oh, my God.
24:43I'm talking over Margaret Pomerantz.
24:44No, you can do that.
24:45David Stratton did it all the time.
24:47It was a particularly complicated story because, like, this community,
24:52I had to get permission from somebody in a certain higher-up community
25:00with tattoos and chopped off fingers, if you know what I'm talking about,
25:04to get permission to film in there.
25:06You know, it's run by gangsters.
25:08The only way I could film in there was if I filmed the bloke with my main character
25:13and no-one else.
25:16Elliot, I reckon people watching this right now at home are at the edge of their seat
25:21with everything you're saying now.
25:23Yes, I'm just about to say that.
25:24And how...
25:26Why...
25:27Couldn't you have intertwined some of this amazing stuff into giving a context?
25:32Like, how the hell is, like, you having to talk to the Japanese mafia to get this story
25:37and then, on top of that, the Japanese mafia somehow intertwined with this slum?
25:41And, like...
25:43And how's that not in the story?
25:44It's the best intro ever.
25:45Yes.
25:45That's the best intro ever.
25:47It is a story, but, like, I don't, like...
25:51Yeah, I could tell that story.
25:53And, yeah, I could, like, put myself on camera and be like,
25:55oh, I'm going to, like, Yakuza-run territory.
25:57Some bloke gave me permission to go in here, otherwise I couldn't go in there.
26:01But, like...
26:01That even sounds really interesting when you're trying to make fun of it.
26:04Um, I want to tell a story that is about a community that's been shut down
26:10and this place is, like, rising up.
26:12And I wanted to tell a story about this bloke who has a little restaurant
26:18who may or may not be dodgy, you know what I mean?
26:20But whatever.
26:21That's what I got out of it, Elliot.
26:23I don't give a shit about the Yakuza or any of the rest of it.
26:27I love what you did.
26:29Thank you, Margaret.
26:31Well, thanks, Elliot, for taking us somewhere totally off the tourist map.
26:36Our next stop on tonight's bullet train, yep, it's Kate,
26:39who decided to stay where she landed in Tokyo,
26:43a city of endless subcultures.
26:45Kate, you had some one-on-one time with your hero,
26:48John Safran, this week.
26:50How was that?
26:51Yeah, yeah.
26:52I was a bit struggling with a little bit of imposter syndrome
26:55and was trying to challenge that fear.
26:58You seem to, like, be quite, like, you come across relaxed.
27:01Really?
27:02Yeah.
27:02I think I struggle a bit with comparing myself to the other competitors.
27:07I think I have a bit of imposter syndrome.
27:11They're, you know, very strong in what they do and I am just winging it.
27:17No-one really knows what's going on.
27:19It's like, you've got as good an idea as anyone else.
27:23I think everyone's faking it.
27:25I think you're so idiosyncratic and it's just, you've got this real lucky break
27:29where you're being funded to, like, just do crazy stuff.
27:33You might as well do what you want.
27:35Yeah, yeah.
27:35And lean into your voice.
27:37When you were making this week's film, what was the John Safran voice in your head saying?
27:42I think I remember him saying, don't be afraid to put yourself in this situation.
27:47So that was playing around in my head.
27:50Well, here is Heaven is Filled with Femboys and Crossdressers.
27:57I wish I was cute and jolly, but my features are rather harsh
28:04and I have mental illness.
28:06Maybe there's no hope for me unless I seek some serious help.
28:13Well, then, please, please, please.
28:17Excuse me, please.
28:21Please, please.
28:22Good morning, everyone.
28:23I'm here at Cafe Meilish.
28:24I'm here at Misa.
28:34I'm here at Cafe Meilish.
28:36I'm here at Misa in Tokyo.
28:39Femboys, or Otokonoko, are boys that enjoy a cute and feminine appearance.
28:47Misa's mum told him this year he would become famous.
28:51But in my eyes, he's already a star.
28:57澄んだ思い出に青い眼差しを重ねて
29:03かわいい男の子になるには
29:07やっぱり何よりもまずメイクの練習
29:13そして自分を客観視できるようになることだと思います。
29:18これは美しいとか美しくないっていうわけじゃなくて
29:24とにかくもっと楽しいことをやっていきたいです。
29:28もっとよりライトに、ポップに
29:33この男の子活動を通じて伝えていきたいです。
29:39普段は会社員しているYumaです。
29:46最初に女装をした時は
29:50すごい変身したなっていうのがまず第一印象だったんですけど
29:55ちょっと違う感じになれることで
29:59なんか、こう、発揮出せるというか
30:02なんか、我が子みたいな
30:06自分がメイクさせて変身させてる子は
30:07もうなんかちょっと
30:10我が子みたいなイメージにはなってますね。
30:12自分の子供みたいに
30:15なんか、かわいいお洋服着せてあげたいし
30:18なんか、今の女装男子って
30:22すごい尊い存在だと思うんですよね。
30:25やっぱり日本人の気質みたいなところもあって
30:28普段の仕事では結構みんな真面目に作業していて
30:30私にとっての女装とは
30:34一つはストレスを発散する場所かなって思ってます。
30:41僕が可愛い生きていけないなら
30:44もうとんどちがいけないなら
30:45僕が死んでるなら
30:48僕が死に来るなら
30:52彼女子と男子とクロスドレスに満ちます
31:12Good stuff, like getting into, like, a little world
31:16that I imagine most of the viewers will be excited
31:19that it's like they're getting to see something
31:21they don't usually see.
31:22So, top marks for that.
31:24I would have liked it to have gone a little deeper
31:29into, like, a bit of conflict in so much as, like,
31:32are they getting no pushback from the culture?
31:36Are they getting no pushback from their parents?
31:38Like, it's not Northcote in Melbourne, it's Tokyo in Japan.
31:42It's like, what are the stakes of being a femboy
31:44or a cross-dresser there?
31:47I think, surprisingly, most people said that they don't really
31:52get a hard time from it because it is sort of a common thing that you see
31:57that's in popular culture in Japan.
31:59I kind of question that.
32:01When you kind of go to these overseas places, there's often this, like, there's so much
32:06meaning and deepness to all these different cultures that they're not going to tell you
32:10about the first time, but if you kind of poke it a bit, suddenly you'll find out more.
32:15And, like, specifically in Japan.
32:17Jack?
32:18Yeah, I thought it was really good that you showcased who cares what people think,
32:24do what makes you happy.
32:25And I love the intro as well.
32:26It kind of captured you straight away for the first 30 seconds.
32:29Yeah, I agree.
32:31There was something very honest about it at the start.
32:35I think it's a very personal film from you, actually.
32:38You know, you deprecate yourself.
32:42You're not cute or jolly or anything like that.
32:47And at the same time, you're exploring a world where people want to be cute and pretty and
32:56achieve that.
32:57And I thought it was quite poignant.
32:59I'm glad that came across with this binding of a personal story and the story of these
33:08subjects.
33:08I think I was a bit worried about sort of cramming that in, but, yeah, it sounds like
33:14that thread kind of came through for Margaret, which is, yeah, really, really sick.
33:20I mean, you always respond to something real.
33:23I liked it very much.
33:25So congratulations from me.
33:28Oh, thank you.
33:30Well, I want to go to heaven with femboys and crossdressers too, so thank you, Kate,
33:34for taking us into their story.
33:37Next up, it's Michaela, who quickly bailed from the reunion and travelled all the way
33:43to Tokushima.
33:44Michaela, what took you there?
33:46So John and I had a great chat about taking risks and I had found this story that seemed
33:52so incredible, but there was no way to contact and get confirmation before I started the story.
33:57And I just thought, I'll just go and hope the best.
34:01And so, yeah, I just booked a flight and left with no idea whether or not this story would
34:06pull through.
34:06That's taking a risk.
34:08Well done.
34:08Well, Michaela, let's take a look at your film.
34:11Here is Imitations.
34:27In Japan, imitation is rarely hidden.
34:32I came to a village where the living had been replaced by imitations.
34:38But imitations don't wait at bus stops.
34:43I came to the scarecrow village to talk to the scarecrow maker.
34:48I wanted to understand why she replicates people into dolls.
34:52She hasn't left the village in 20 years.
34:55On the day I arrived, she left for the first time.
35:00Her dad was sick.
35:02She went with him to the hospital.
35:04Human.
35:06Human.
35:11The scarecrow sit very still, more patient than me.
35:17The village felt honest.
35:21Nobody here claimed to be alive.
35:25They never pretended to listen.
35:27They never spoke to fill the silence.
35:31I don't know what good is anymore.
35:38Maybe humanity has always tolerated substitutions.
35:42an answer replacing research a documentary replacing truth a voice replacing a person
35:50i think i trusted the silence more than most voices this year
35:56documentary is supposed to the scarecrows do what they were meant to do they scare off the
36:02crows they keep the garden alive but they also don't hide what they're not
36:08they don't imitate breathing they don't do what they think they should do they don't ask to be
36:14believed i came to the village expecting to document artificial people instead i just kept
36:23thinking about real ones at what point does imitation become indistinguishable from behavior
36:33trying very hard to appear alive is my voice just becoming another ghost in a village
36:43theater of the absurd ends where it begins maybe documentaries do too
36:50i came to document a village filled with human replicas
37:18i thought the start was great i think it was like pretty engaging like the
37:23quick cuts i liked how it showed this lonely place that was kind of eerie which was quite
37:29you know it did felt like a bit of a horror film but yeah it was maybe a little bit
37:34too artsy
37:35for me like it was a little bit slow john did you like the film oh i loved it you
37:40you went
37:41over there and you found this place that were i mean i haven't seen this before and maybe other
37:46people have seen it i don't know i was just fascinated and i i thought it was really cool
37:50how when you're thrown the obstacle of the person wasn't there you know like you took advantage of
37:55that and like with the artsy thing i didn't find that at all yeah you know what i mean like
38:00i did i
38:00didn't and i'm pretty sensitive to things being too artsy i i don't think you overstated things or
38:05anything i thought you know i really liked it i think it was great that you got on a plane
38:11and went
38:12to this place that was just a theory in your head i wonder whether the the through line on it
38:20wasn't
38:21just a bit banal i just wish that you'd explored the village more i mean why is it there who
38:29does
38:29these things it was bad timing wasn't it that you couldn't get to the woman who created this oh yeah
38:38for sure but i feel like the loose end was fascinating like that she reflected that she'd
38:43gone there and could not figure out what was going on like it felt emotionally true this whole thing
38:48of like just being somewhere and lonely and not knowing what to do and she placed herself in this
38:53weird situation she was thrown into and you sort of did get to know a bit about michaela just not
38:59in a
38:59straightforward way yeah but john talking i you know i mean i think that you know i'm liking it
39:07more put it on again yeah because i can see what you you see in it that's the beauty of
39:17talking
39:18about film and cinema isn't it that someone else's perspective can be really informative and so all
39:26right i think you know it's pretty positive from john and i at this stage it's still positive for me
39:32margaret's come full circle i love it well michaela i'm pretty sure that those doll faces
39:37are going to haunt me forever so thank you so much for my future nightmares
39:45and next william who actually holds the dream of one day opening up a small coffee shop in japan
39:53will you are frozen but we can still hear you thankfully did you sign a lease while you were there
39:59yes and i mean i i had a little bit of a coffee crawl while i was here the coffee
40:05culture is pretty
40:06cool but if i'm honest i i found it hard to fully enjoy myself this go around um i you
40:12know not to
40:12spoil my film too much but it was kind of heavy okay well i'm very curious about what your film
40:17is all
40:18about let's see what you found in japan here is william's film titled it's just content
40:26so
40:30so
40:40so
40:41so
40:41so
40:58And could you give us a quick tour of the book, like a quick skim of it?
41:02Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, so it's, uh, basically it's, this is in the style of hetauma, heta
41:10means poorly, and Uma means well done, so it's kind of, kind of well done, poorly drawn art.
41:20And the story is pretty much just about him and what he did
41:26while he was, uh, you know, when he he killed this Dutch woman in Paris.
41:30Very much considered one of the most disgusting manga out there. Definitely when I post something
41:37like this on social media, um, always will lose some followers.
41:43How does that make you feel that it's this divisive book that you stock?
41:48Um, I don't know. For me, it's a slice of history. Um, I don't, I mean, I, I don't like
41:55Sagawa.
41:56I don't really like the manga. I don't really like the art, but it is something that happened in history,
42:01and it's very strange that it was, that he was able to recount his story in the art form of
42:08manga.
42:09Why do you think they published this? Because I feel like a lot of these relics are sort of objects
42:15that were maybe produced by the individual, but this was sort of commercial, right?
42:21Yeah, yeah. I mean, I don't know, to be honest, but he did, after he was released from the mental
42:29institution, he appeared on Japanese TV, and he was kind of a, kind of a, in the limelight, you know?
42:37He was in media, and I think a lot of people took his story and ran with it because they
42:41could make
42:42a quick buck off of it, to be honest.
42:45How did you feel when you first read the book?
42:49Nausea. It felt gross, you know? Reading it felt gross. Reading it left like, just like a sick
42:56taste in my mouth, you know? But then over the years of seeing it pop up here and there,
43:03you kind of just become desensitized to it, to be honest. I've become a bit jaded as far as content
43:09goes,
43:09and I've just seen and consumed so much doing this, like, whole bookstore business. If you're
43:17looking at it constantly, it just becomes, it's almost like you don't even see humans in it anymore.
43:23It just becomes a thing that, um, kind of doesn't bother me anymore. It's just content.
43:39What a fascinating story, really.
43:43Yeah, the story's insane. The story's probably one of the strongest stories of the night. But I felt
43:49it started out at 100 and kind of slowly just went down to 20 without just having enough answers.
43:57I thought it was interesting that you start out and you want to investigate the background of the
44:05publishing of this book, and you actually never get to that point. Um, I sort of did. Um, uh, and
44:13I
44:13guess it's not in the film, but it's just like in a Wikipedia article. And to be honest, one of
44:18my
44:18opinions about factual content is like, if it exists as a Wikipedia article, I don't know, it doesn't
44:25really warrant much repeating. I really appreciate that the sideways thing of you're going to look at
44:32this horrific crime and then find this one cog of someone who was complicit in sharing it, which was the
44:41bookshop seller. That's really good. But I kind of feel like you didn't lock in why this particular
44:49bookshop owner is being interrogated compared with just say, yeah, the publisher.
44:55Did you find the publisher? Did you have an opportunity to find the publisher and ask them
44:59why they published this manga book? Super underground. I couldn't figure it out. And to be honest,
45:05it was also a time crunch. Um, I think I, you know, I thought I, I, I had like a
45:11provocative
45:12interview with Sean as well, but if that, you know, didn't work, then it didn't work.
45:17I want to know whether he would sell the book. I mean, was it just in his part of his
45:23collection
45:24or was he prepared to sell it? Did he have more copies? Was it just the one off?
45:29Did you ask the bookseller that tough question? Why is he selling this book?
45:36Yeah, I did. I did. Um, uh, and I mean, he had a response that for me personally,
45:41I just didn't think it was, uh, particularly compelling. And so that's why it's not.
45:45And he said something along the lines of like, I have no moral responsibility for, um, you know,
45:51what people consume and stuff like that.
45:53I think that was, that's, that was the core of the film and it's not there. You know,
46:00that he doesn't feel any moral responsibility for what his customers consume. And that's,
46:08that's really the ethical dilemma here, isn't it?
46:11Did you want William to go further in the interview to, to push further?
46:15But he did push and edited it out. Yeah.
46:20Oh, well that there, well then maybe, yeah, put it back in.
46:23Put it back in, William. It's not too late.
46:27Well, William, that was really intense, but it's quite impressive to see a film and a story
46:33that so few have ever heard of. So thank you for finding it, Will.
46:40All right, time for our final filmmaker of the night. It's Jaden. In a country of 14,000
46:46islands to choose from, he went straight to the waterways of May, home to the ninja and premium
46:52Wagyu beef. Have you put more water in the onsen, Jaden? It looks higher.
46:57It's getting so cold in here. You're going to be full prune by the time you get out.
47:02Oh, Jaden, stand up, mate. No!
47:06No, do not stand up. There are children in the audience.
47:11Jaden, now, I've never heard of May before. What took you there?
47:16Yeah, like you said, it's the home of the ninja, but not just the ninjas, Anne.
47:19I found out it's the home of Godzilla and also this group of people that I was just fascinated
47:26with that I'd heard about. So yeah, I just jetted straight there to see if I could find some of
47:31these
47:31people and help tell their story. Well, I'm excited to see you dive deep, quite literally.
47:35Let's see what Jaden found under the surface. Here is dear Sine.
47:56It's hard to protect the environment in a world that favours quick financial gain.
48:01My sister Sine is a diver and conservationist, and she's thinking about giving it all up for a comfortable corporate
48:10life.
48:13She's thinking about having plans for a while.
48:15My name is L.
48:18My name is L.
48:19My mother is 2000 years old, and I'm a scientist on her kid.
48:28My mother, 2000 years old, the master's young in the world, and she's a child.
48:43アマさんは海から貝や海藻などを摂っていろんな地域の人に食べてもらっています。
48:48摂りすぎないように気をつけながら活動します。
48:55多くのアマさんは歳をとっています。
49:05当たり前だったのさ。塩焼け、磯焼け、昔と違うの。昔はいっぱい摂ったもん。
49:21旧社たちは水温計を使って調べて温暖化していると、そのため以前より海藻が少なくなっています。
49:29住む場所だからです。アマさんは今は多くは火星。
49:32そのぐらいの時代やな。
49:35ではいませんが、それでも。
49:41かまどで、アマ小屋でしゃべってするのがすごい楽しいんですよね。
49:45女子かよもんな。アマかいやな。
49:52とても幸せです。そして、私のお母さんは
50:01若いアマさんで、私たちの文化が
50:07なくしたくないと思っています。
50:08アマさんは
50:10シネアへ。
50:17あなたはオーストラリアで女性のダイバーとして暮らしていることを忘れないでください。
50:22遠い場所にいると思うけど、私たちが潜る海はつながっています。
50:29海を守ろうとしている気持ちは、お金には変えることのできない大きな幸せになるでしょう。
50:44お母さんは、あなたに伝えたいことがあるそうです。
50:49いるより。
50:58お母さんも大丈夫です。
50:59それから、メッセージを少しにつけることが大好きには、
51:06見事があると思いますんやわらず 愛趣だと。
51:08ねえ、あなたがしますかもしれない。
51:11ムーダーアワーでτοクの段階に持ってくれば、
51:13あなた'm финert視職的があまり いましたね。
51:19so I want to give a little shout-out to her and hope she liked it.
51:23And I'm definitely not almost tearing up.
51:25She's really hot in this onsen right here.
51:28Beautiful. Did you like the film, Jack?
51:30I did like the film. The shots were incredible.
51:32I thought the shots were amazing.
51:33Probably my only thing is, like, you're such a vibrant personality.
51:37I don't... It's crazy to me that you're not in the film.
51:42The thing is, it was so good that you thought about dragging your sister into it.
51:46Like, I loved it, but I think you didn't establish at the start...
51:50I didn't understand at the start whether you were, like, cheekily, like,
51:55my sister, you know, she's doing this good job at the moment,
51:58she's thinking of selling out to the corporate thing.
52:00So I've gone over here and I found this adorable little child
52:03who's going to make your sister look like a jerk
52:05because this child's saying that she's doing the wrong thing.
52:09You just had the option of basically, I think,
52:11throwing your sister under the bus a bit more.
52:13Why would he want to throw his sister under a bus?
52:16No, it's kind of...
52:16For goodness sake!
52:18Oh, alternatively, go earnest,
52:21but then we have to kind of know that that's what it is.
52:24So what was it?
52:25Was there a playfulness of dragging your sister in
52:28and accusing her of potentially being a sellout?
52:31Or was it, like, totally earnest?
52:33No, like, it's really funny to me that it's come across that way
52:36because, um...
52:38No, she has been.
52:39Like, we talked in the week and she's an early career scientist,
52:43and it's really been getting to her.
52:45And, um, I don't really think that I did give across
52:48any of that sarcastic vibes to the point that I was actually worried
52:52that I was being way too, uh, sincere.
52:54I don't think you did either.
52:56Oh, thanks, Margaret.
52:58I can always count on you.
53:01Then there just should have been more clarity.
53:03You needed to, like, crank it up 25% more or whatever,
53:0610% more that, like, you're being serious and this is your sister.
53:11Whether that would have been, like, showing a photo of you and her
53:13as a kid, like, that would have made all the difference.
53:15Well, that's the hook, and then you're invested for the whole thing.
53:18Totally.
53:19It's like you had a half-pregnant hook.
53:21Yeah, yeah.
53:23Is what I'm saying.
53:23Like, it's such a good hook.
53:25But you just have to commit to it just a bit more.
53:27And maybe this is, I mean...
53:29Listen, I reckon you ought to give him a break.
53:32Yeah.
53:33Yes, Margaret.
53:34You know, I mean...
53:35Why are you being so nice?
53:36Well, because I'm just starting to really appreciate
53:41the pressure that you guys are under.
53:43I don't think it's easy.
53:45Thanks, Margaret, for going in to bat for me.
53:47Love you.
53:48I hope that onsen water hasn't gone completely cold.
53:51Thank you so much, Jayden.
53:56OK, it's scoreboard time.
53:58Let's do it, team.
53:59Six completely different visions of Japan.
54:02Impossible to compare, except these three experts have to.
54:06Margaret, your top two films.
54:08I found this week really difficult to judge
54:13because I think so many of the films have wonderful qualities.
54:20But I've got to go with Elliot for my top pick.
54:24And I've got to go with Kate for my second.
54:28Thank you both.
54:30Jack?
54:31Yeah.
54:32I mean, if you're saying it's hard to critique,
54:34imagine how I feel.
54:35I'd say my favourite film was...
54:39It's Lucinda.
54:41Something about it, the bidets, it's just got me.
54:45..and, uh, number two was Elliot.
54:48Yeah, yeah.
54:49OK.
54:50John?
54:51Um, yeah, number one, Mikayla.
54:55And then my second place.
54:57I'm going to go with, uh, Kate.
55:02OK.
55:03Two for Mikayla, one for Kate.
55:06Let's take a look at this week's scoreboard, then.
55:10OK, Elliot out the front with three points.
55:13Kate right behind with two,
55:15as is Lucinda and Mikayla, also scoring two points.
55:20And Jaden and William missing out this week.
55:24Elliot, is this a surprise for you?
55:26Um, it's only a surprise because, like,
55:29I just loved everyone else's films
55:31and they're all so goddamn talented.
55:34Hey, Elliot, there's room in this onsen for one more,
55:36if you want to come and join me.
55:38LAUGHTER
55:38Jaden, I would love to be in that onsen with you, mate.
55:42Please stand up.
55:45Please stand up.
55:46Isn't that, like, an Eminem song or something?
55:47Dude, stand up. Come on.
55:50LAUGHTER
55:50All right.
55:51I would be under that one, dude.
55:53LAUGHTER
55:55LAUGHTER
55:59LAUGHTER
56:00LAUGHTER
56:00Incredible.
56:01Oh, how can I say no to that smile?
56:03LAUGHTER
56:04Let's see how a week in Japan affected the overall leaderboard.
56:10Oh, at the top we have Elliot at 11 points.
56:17Lucinda has come right up with nine points.
56:21Jaden right behind with eight.
56:23Kate nipping at the heels with seven.
56:25Mikayla at six.
56:27And William with four points on the overall leaderboard.
56:32APPLAUSE
56:34All right, gang, five more films to make,
56:37and there are only six points between first and last place,
56:41so it is anyone's game.
56:42Well, Australia, we love hearing what you think too.
56:46Don't forget to vote for your favourite film
56:48for the People's Choice Award
56:49at abc.net.au slash R-A-T-W.
56:55CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
56:57All right, ready to find out where you're going next, team?
57:00Let's go.
57:01Oh, yeah. Yeah.
57:05LAUGHTER
57:07Oh!
57:07Oh!
57:09You're pulled. You're pulled.
57:11Oh, I don't know what to do with that.
57:13Yes! I'm going to...
57:15Lucinda, Botswana,
57:17tell me what's going through your mind right now, heading to Africa.
57:20Oh, my God, Botswana.
57:21So, I was going through...
57:22I was looking at archival stuff yesterday,
57:24and I realised in uni, I was, like, uh...
57:27I made this video, which was, like,
57:29last night I had a big palmer.
57:30Heck, it was bigger than Botswana.
57:32And that's the only time I've ever heard and referenced Botswana,
57:35so this is going to be exciting.
57:37Great. So, Palmers in Botswana,
57:38that's the first story idea you have.
57:40I'm excited to see that unfold.
57:42Elliot, how are you feeling about heading to beautiful Nepal?
57:46I have always wanted to go to Nepal. That's so exciting.
57:48I'm trying to figure out how long it would take to hike up Everest.
57:52Is that in Nepal?
57:52I think it's on the border of Nepal and somewhere else.
57:55Hiking up Everest and making a film in ten days.
57:58I think that the ABC lawyers might have some questions about that.
58:01Well, your time starts now.
58:03Good luck, have fun.
58:04Can't wait to see you and your films next week.
58:07See you, guys!
58:11CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
58:12And a big thank you to our wonderful judges,
58:15Margaret Pomerantz...
58:16CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
58:19..Jack Steele...
58:20CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
58:22..and John Safran.
58:24CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
58:26I'll see you next week!
58:27CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
58:33.. 1982
58:34END
58:35COURT
58:35wyk
58:39キャラスト
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