Red Post on Escher Street

Red Post on Escher Street is a 2020 comedy-drama film written, edited, and directed by Sion Sono, starring a large ensemble cast. It has been described as a "love-letter to cinema itself, its makers and, more than anything else, its performers." Premise Festival-magnet director Tadashi Kobayashi (Tatsuhiro Yamaoka) holds an open audition for his upcoming film. A wave of aspiring actors apply, vying for any chance at screen time or to work with this talented filmmaker. The film follows the applicants in their own personal struggles. Unbeknownst to these aspiring actors are Kobayashi's own personal struggles and the issues arising behind the scenes during the film's pre-production. Cast Tomoko Fujita Sen Fujimaru as Yabuki Yasuko Mitsuru Fukikoshi Sayaka Hori Matsuri Kohira as Kiriko Marina Kozawa Riku Kurokouchi Mala Morgan as Katako Canon Nawata as Hirona Matsumoto Taro Suwa Jun Toba Tetsu Watanabe Tatsuhiro Yamaoka as Tadashi Kobayashi Production In the year before the film's release, Sono participated as an instructor in a workshop for aspiring actors. He explained, "simply training [the students] wasn't enough, so I decided to make a film with them." He further described the film as being "like a graduation project" and that his intentions for the film weren't to make a film for theatres, but to make something to support his students and their future careers. Sono then went on to write the film, stating that some of the scenes in the film were inspired by his own experiences as a director, namely the scenes including the selfish producers, while other scenes were inspired by the experiences of his students in their endeavours to become professional actors.