Thomas Ash
-1287
Nippon Visions ½
After learning that his friend Katsuko is going to die of breast cancer, director Ian Thomas Ash decides to document the remaining time of her life with his camera. In deeply intimate conversations, Katsuko reveals her thoughts and fears, wishes and regrets. -1287 is a heartbreaking tribute to a warm-hearted and courageous personality, inviting the audience to think profoundly about death and their own life.
About Thomas Ash
Thomas Ash received his MA in Film and Television Production from the University of Bristol. His first feature-length documentary, THE BALLAD OF VICKI AND JAKE (2006), was internationally acclaimed. Himself a US citizen, he has been living in Japan since 2004. His films have focused on issues surrounding the healthcare system, death, and illness. He received the NIPPON VISIONS AWARD in 2013 for his documentary A2-B-C (2013 / NC ’13), the NIPPON VISIONS AUDIENCE AWARD in 2015 for -1287 (2014 / NC ’15) and the NIPPON DOCS AWARD in 2019 for SENDING OFF (2019 / NC ’19).