INSTRUMENTS OF A BEATING HEART - EMA RYAN YAMAKAZI (2024)

Made by Japanese-British filmmaker Ema Ryan Yamazaki, and nominated for the Best Short Documentary Oscar, Instruments Of A Beating Heart presents a microcosm of Japanese society by taking an intimate look at a class of young children preparing to perform a musical welcome for new students. Ryan Yamazaki writes that she wanted to showcase the sense of community that is instilled in Japanese citizens, but I found it hard to watch a male music teacher berating a crying 6-year-old girl, and encouraging the rest of the class to denounce her for not practicing enough. It made think of a communist regime rather than a Western-looking democracy (they are even practicing Beethoven). I suppose it's no coincidence that community and communism share the same root. If I had seen my daughter essentially bullied like that... on the other hand, the care and love shown by the girl's female teacher is heartwarming to see. If you like Instruments Of A Beating Heart by Ema Ryan Yamazaki be sure to rate and share it!