Perhaps They're Expecting a Little Something Extra

—About how long did it take to record the narration for this film?

Surprisingly… it was all in one day. I wish I had practiced more (laughs). I was absolutely sure my throat would get dry, but… I discovered a way to keep it from getting dry. You just have to breathe through your nose (laughs).

—You do a lot of narration work, so I assumed you were used to it.

It was my first feature film, and the first time I'd spoken this much. Plus, it was all in one day, so honestly, it felt quite rushed (laughs).



—What prompted you to take on this narration, which sounds like it was quite a rush?

The visuals of "Alps" were truly magnificent… I thought it was a wonderful film, so I wanted to contribute, even if just with my voice. I've actually been to the Alps myself. The scenery is unlike anything you find in Japan; it felt like 'far away, yet close.' It was powerful. Immensely so.

—Were there any particular difficulties you faced while actually speaking the lines?

I realized just how casually I usually speak (laughs). My enunciation isn't as good as I thought. The director gave me very specific instructions, like, 'I couldn't quite hear the 'r' sound there.' Since it's a foreign film, there were so many place names in katakana that I wasn't used to reading… it was difficult right up to the end. Just when I thought I was getting the hang of it, the recording was finished (laughs).

—Is there anything you hoped to convey through your narration?

Professional narrators undergo training to deliver their voices and enunciation clearly, with correct intonation, making them easy to understand. But when I, who hasn't had such training, am asked to narrate, I assume they're looking for 'something extra' that a professional narrator might not have.



So I thought, maybe I should just narrate in a similar, in a sense, calm manner. So, without much embellishment, I narrated it straightforwardly (laughs). But midway through, when my words started to get jumbled, I realized anew, 'Hmm, this really is a difficult job after all.'

—But regarding your enunciation, there was no problem at all (laughs).

No, I had to re-record so many parts (laughs).

—Finally, what are your impressions and thoughts on "Alps" as a film?

You can fully savor the magnificent Alpine scenery, and at the same time, you realize how even a small human intervention to enrich our lives can have a significant impact on nature. For example, how changing the course of a river with a dam can cause great damage to the ecosystem…

For instance, even with ski resorts on the mountaintops, there are many structures that make you wonder, 'How did they build that there?' Whether you see that as a human achievement or a sin against nature… perhaps the perception differs somewhat between the West and Japan.

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Towering peaks, sheer valleys, lush pastures, ski resorts, churches submerged by dams… This film presents the majestic nature of the Alps, the people who live there, and the reality of a nature that is being damaged, all depicted truthfully and beautifully. It's a documentary that leaves the viewer to draw their own conclusions about the relationship between humans and nature, rather than offering a one-sided environmentalist perspective. We hope you enjoy it with a clear mind, alongside Satomi Kobayashi's narration.

Satomi Kobayashi
Born in Tokyo in 1965. She is active in various fields including television, film, and theater, and has published numerous essays, demonstrating her prolific writing. She is one of Japan's leading actresses. Her major works include "Kamome Diner" (2006), "Glasses" (2007), "Gama no Abura" and "Pool" (2009), "Mother Water" (2010), "Tokyo Oasis" (2011), and "The Paper Moon" (2014).