Isao Yamada

Directing

Isao Yamada

Place of birth

Hokkaidō, Japan

Known for

Directing

Credits

43 titles

Yamada Isao was born in Hokkaido, 1952. He joined an experimental theatrical troupe “Tenjo Sajiki” of Terayama. He took charge of art and costume designs in Terayama’s movies. His first film “Subaru no Yoru” (Night on Pleiades) (1977) won a prize at Off-theater Film Festival (later the name changed to Pia Film Festival). Until now, he has made over 100 movies, mainly 8mm films. With motifs of the borderline between reality and dream, he draws pictorial world of nostalgia. The images with his unique world view have attracted critics worldwide, and some of his works are archived in foreign art museums and universities. He is also a cartoonist and book designer.

Known for

I've Heard the Ammonite Murmur poster
7.3

A young geologist is traveling by train to visit his sister in the countryside after having received a mysterious letter from her.

I've Heard the Ammonite Murmur

1992

Sturm und Drang poster
NR

In the winter of 1922 (Taisho 11), a poet and social activist Nakahama Tetsu returned from a wandering journey to reunite with Furuta Daijiro and other comrades. They organized an anarchist organization “Guillotine Society” dreaming of revolution. For their ideal, they targeted the Prince of Wales who visited Japan, but failed in all their attempts. Matsuura Emile, a soba selling mysterious woman with all foreseeing eyes, comes and goes before them. In September of 1923 (Taisho 12), under martial law, anarchists Osugi Sakae and Ito Noe whom members of Guillotine Society adored were taken by Captain Amakasu of the military police, and killed. When they learned of the murder, members of Guillotine Society swore vengeance, and rose up… Then, transcending time, at a cafe, music rings loud….

Sturm und Drang

2014

The Soul Odyssey poster
4.0

A young man is on an inner journey as he searches for meaning in love, eroticism and marriage. He boards a train, and all the clocks are mirrored from then on, as if looking at them from the inside. He travels to a homey village, meets a potential fiancée, then a more sensuous and mysterious stripper.

The Soul Odyssey

2003

Girl Orphee poster
8.0

No synopsis available yet.

Girl Orphee

2001

Playing Pretend poster
NR

A documentary that centers on filmmaker Mikio Yamazaki, exploring his artistic vision and his feelings towards 8mm film, the primary medium of his work.

Playing Pretend

2004

Crystal poster
7.3

Crystal unfolds as a series of evocative, non-linear vignettes where fleeting images and sensations merge into a meditation on memory and time. A solitary figure moves through shifting urban and natural landscapes—fragments of childhood recollections, dreamlike encounters, and dissolving reflections in water or glass. Objects transform unexpectedly - a lantern flickers into a memory, a stranger’s face blurs into light - blurring boundaries between past and present.

Crystal

1988

Film credits

Behind the camera

I've Heard the Ammonite Murmur poster
7.3

A young geologist is traveling by train to visit his sister in the countryside after having received a mysterious letter from her.

I've Heard the Ammonite Murmur

1992

I've Heard the Ammonite Murmur poster
7.3

A young geologist is traveling by train to visit his sister in the countryside after having received a mysterious letter from her.

I've Heard the Ammonite Murmur

1992

Sturm und Drang poster
NR

In the winter of 1922 (Taisho 11), a poet and social activist Nakahama Tetsu returned from a wandering journey to reunite with Furuta Daijiro and other comrades. They organized an anarchist organization “Guillotine Society” dreaming of revolution. For their ideal, they targeted the Prince of Wales who visited Japan, but failed in all their attempts. Matsuura Emile, a soba selling mysterious woman with all foreseeing eyes, comes and goes before them. In September of 1923 (Taisho 12), under martial law, anarchists Osugi Sakae and Ito Noe whom members of Guillotine Society adored were taken by Captain Amakasu of the military police, and killed. When they learned of the murder, members of Guillotine Society swore vengeance, and rose up… Then, transcending time, at a cafe, music rings loud….

Sturm und Drang

2014

The Soul Odyssey poster
4.0

A young man is on an inner journey as he searches for meaning in love, eroticism and marriage. He boards a train, and all the clocks are mirrored from then on, as if looking at them from the inside. He travels to a homey village, meets a potential fiancée, then a more sensuous and mysterious stripper.

The Soul Odyssey

2003

The Soul Odyssey poster
4.0

A young man is on an inner journey as he searches for meaning in love, eroticism and marriage. He boards a train, and all the clocks are mirrored from then on, as if looking at them from the inside. He travels to a homey village, meets a potential fiancée, then a more sensuous and mysterious stripper.

The Soul Odyssey

2003

Girl Orphee poster
8.0

No synopsis available yet.

Girl Orphee

2001

Crystal poster
7.3

Crystal unfolds as a series of evocative, non-linear vignettes where fleeting images and sensations merge into a meditation on memory and time. A solitary figure moves through shifting urban and natural landscapes—fragments of childhood recollections, dreamlike encounters, and dissolving reflections in water or glass. Objects transform unexpectedly - a lantern flickers into a memory, a stranger’s face blurs into light - blurring boundaries between past and present.

Crystal

1988

Crystal poster
7.3

Crystal unfolds as a series of evocative, non-linear vignettes where fleeting images and sensations merge into a meditation on memory and time. A solitary figure moves through shifting urban and natural landscapes—fragments of childhood recollections, dreamlike encounters, and dissolving reflections in water or glass. Objects transform unexpectedly - a lantern flickers into a memory, a stranger’s face blurs into light - blurring boundaries between past and present.

Crystal

1988

LES ILLUMINATIONS (Short Version) poster
6.0

A short version of the 3-hour-long film for the exhibition featuring a film installation and photographic works based on Yamada ongoing 81-reel Super-8mm work of the same title. Yamada has been working on this film project consistently since 2015.

LES ILLUMINATIONS (Short Version)

2023

Prism poster
7.0

Experimental work by Isao Yamada (Color, 8mm).

Prism

1999

Reminiscence poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Reminiscence

2019

A lion and violet poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

A lion and violet

1986

Tokyo Nostalgia poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Tokyo Nostalgia

2009

Instability of the Signal poster
6.0

Film of Simon Fisher Turner's new album, Instability of The Signal, directed by Japanese filmmaker Isao Yamada.

Instability of the Signal

2024

Merry Christmas poster
6.0

No synopsis available yet.

Merry Christmas

1986

Swamp poster
8.0

An 8mm film by Isao Yamada.

Swamp

1999

Swamp poster
8.0

An 8mm film by Isao Yamada.

Swamp

1999

A Star and a Propeller poster
6.0

No synopsis available yet.

A Star and a Propeller

2000

Lynx Reel poster
6.5

Why do people wave their hands when they say goodbye? We embarked on a dream journey from Borges' The Circular Ruins. Filmed in 16mm by the Japanese Isao Yamada, filmmaker, graphic artist and manga author.

Lynx Reel

1987

The Sketch of Snow poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

The Sketch of Snow

1988

Tears of Socks poster
7.0

No synopsis available yet.

Tears of Socks

1994

Delicate eyelashes poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Delicate eyelashes

2007

Marie from the Sea poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Marie from the Sea

2014

A silhouette poster
6.0

No synopsis available yet.

A silhouette

1986

Long Good-bye poster
NR

Dreams, signs, fragments, margins, letters, one could also add love and memory to the list. My enchanted kingdom is filled with real aimlessness. The more the better. All that is left behind after it has disappeared is quiet. In the end I feel there hasn't been enough time to play. I want to say good-bye to this irrepressible feeling right around now though. After the color, the shape and the words have disappeared what will be left? Perhaps that is the tragedy of the twentieth century.

Long Good-bye

1997

Filmletter★oufuku IV poster
5.0

No synopsis available yet.

Filmletter★oufuku IV

1999

A Marine Barber poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

A Marine Barber

1980

Comet poster
NR

Experimental work by Isao Yamada (Color, 16mm).

Comet

2003

No artwork available
NR

Experimental work by Isao Yamada (Color, 8mm).

Night Channel

2004

The Crown of Dreams poster
6.0

No synopsis available yet.

The Crown of Dreams

1994

No artwork available
NR

Experimental work by Isao Yamada (B&W, 8mm).

Black Girl

2004

No artwork available
NR

Experimental work by Isao Yamada (Color, 8mm).

Desire Lost

1994

Winter Flower poster
5.5

No synopsis available yet.

Winter Flower

2003

Tokyo Dusk poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Tokyo Dusk

1992

Flamme poster
3.5

Experimental work by Isao Yamada (Color, 8mm).

Flamme

1989

Reflection poster
5.0

Eerie images of landscapes after the Fukushima nuclear disaster shot on black and white 8mm.

Reflection

2014

Endless Flâneuring poster
5.0

A cinematic stroll through Germany.

Endless Flâneuring

2018

Fragmentation of Night poster
8.0

No synopsis available yet.

Fragmentation of Night

1996

No artwork available
NR

Experimental work by Isao Yamada (Color, 8mm).

Cobalt Glass

2004

No artwork available
NR

Experimental work by Isao Yamada (Color, 8mm).

Recollect

1991