Humanity Reflected Through the Eyes of Horses

Born in the spring of 2007 at a snowy pasture in Aomori, the dark bay colt was named Mirrors Quest. He debuted at Nakayama Racecourse on September 18, 2010, finishing last in a field of 16. He never won a single race, and on January 2, 2011, he finished ninth out of nine at Mizusawa Racecourse. The following day, his local racing registration was canceled. His career record: 4 starts, 0 wins, 0 yen in prize money. Unraced horses were taken in by a dealer in Minamisoma Town, Fukushima Prefecture, to live out their remaining years.



Then came March 11, the day of the Great East Japan Earthquake. A violent tsunami struck his stable, and Mirrors Quest miraculously survived the floodwaters. However, due to the accident at the Tokyo Electric Power Company's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, he was deprived of water and food, suffering from hunger and thirst. Furthermore, his injured genitals became severely swollen and could not return to their normal state.


The director is Yuki Matsubayashi, known for 'Soma Kanka: Part 1, Memories of a Stolen Land.' This is not someone else's story.—Director Matsubayashi, who felt this upon first seeing Mirrors Quest, gently accompanies the horse from the Soma region immediately after the earthquake, to Hidaka City in Hokkaido where he was temporarily evacuated, and then back to Soma as Mirrors Quest embarks on his journey to participate in the traditional 'Soma Nomaoi' event.



While tracing the fate of a single horse, the film brings to light contemporary societal issues surrounding the earthquake that lie in its background. To film a horse is to also capture the humans reflected in its eyes.Great East Japan EarthquakeA documentary has been completed that illuminates the event from a new perspective.



'Matsuri no Uma'

Opening Saturday, December 14th, at Theater Image Forum and other theaters nationwide.

Director, Cinematography, Editing | Yuki Matsubayashi

Distribution | Tōfū

2013 / Japan / 74 min

http://matsurinouma.com/



© 2013 Documentary Film 'Matsuri no Uma' Production Committee