| Instruments of a Beating Heart | |
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 Promotional poster | |
| Directed by | Ema Ryan Yamazaki |
| Produced by |
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| Starring | Ayame |
| Cinematography | Kazuki Kakurai |
| Edited by | Mizuki Toriya |
| Music by | Päivi Takala |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | |
Release date |
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Running time | 23 minutes |
| Country | Japan |
| Language | Japanese |
Instruments of a Beating Heart is a 2024 Japanese documentary short film directed by Ema Ryan Yamazaki.[1] Edited down from Yamazaki's 2023 feature The Making of a Japanese,[2][3][4][5] the film documents the challenge presented to the first graders in a Tokyo public elementary school of performing "Ode to Joy" at the ceremony for the new incoming first graders, as their assignment for the final semester.[2]
Instruments of a Beating Heart had its world premiere on June 14, 2024, in the Shorts Program: One-of-a-Kind of DC/DOX Film Festival 2024.[6][7] It won Best Short Documentary at the 40th IDA Documentary Awards and was nominated for Best Documentary Short Film at the 97th Academy Awards.[8]
The documentary follows Ayame, a soon to be second grade school girl eager to participate in a group performance of Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" to welcome new first graders. Encouraged by the teacher to think beyond herself, Ayame wins the cymbal role in the audition. However, a lack of dedication to her task leads to mistakes during rehearsals, prompting the teacher to emphasize the importance of harmony and diligence. Following a reprimand during practice, Ayame loses confidence. Classmates and teachers offer encouragement and support, leading her to rejoin the group and become a part of its eventual success.
It had its International Premiere on June 21, 2024, in the Shorts –3 of Doc Edge Film Festival 2024.[9][10]
It had its Midwest premiere at the Indy Shorts Film Festival on 25 July 2024 in Music.[11]
The film was made available for streaming on November 18, 2024 via YouTube and The New York Times Op-Docs.[12]
The film was showcased at the Doc NYC on November 15, 2024, in the Shorts Human Spirit programme.[13][14]
| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| International Documentary Association Awards | 5 December 2024 | Best Short Documentary | Instruments of a Beating Heart | Won | [15] |
| Cinema Eye Honors | January 9, 2025 | Outstanding Non-Fiction Short | Shortlisted | [16] | |
| Academy Awards | March 2, 2025 | Best Documentary Short Film | Ema Ryan Yamazaki and Eric Nyari | Nominated | [8][17] |
