The Film
Premiering at the Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF), Nezunoban In Japan, the passing of a loved one is marked by ‘night watch’: staying up all night with the deceased, incense burning throughout, to ensure their safe passage to the afterlife.
In directing this piece, Michael Beets sought to create a haunting, immersive atmosphere that challenges traditional theatrical boundaries. By focusing on the raw, unmediated experience of the "night watch," the film manifests a raw emotional intensity that stays with the viewer long after the screen goes dark.
The world of Nezunoban continues in Nezunoban (Nightwatch) — an in-development immersive 3D narrative experience expanding the film into an interactive form.