At the turn of the millennium, Lee Ann Kim, the founder of the Pacific Arts Movement, had the idea to bring an Asian film festival to San Diego. After onboarding artistic director Brian Hu, the two would program a festival full of creative and innovative films that wouldn’t have been shown before. Kim and Hu built the festival on the idea that “If you won’t tell our stories, we will.” Fast forward two and a half decades and they are celebrating not only the 25th anniversary of the San Diego Asian Film Festival but 25 years of change in the film industry at large.
Since they started SDAFF, movies and moviegoing have changed. In the era of streaming and video on demand, Hu said he wants audiences to join together in the darkness of the auditorium, hear the laughter and sniffles of the audience and be part of the community. Every year, when the San Diego Asian Film Festival comes around, it’s another opportunity to realize that.
To celebrate 25 years of Asian American and international cinema, a sold-out opening night ceremony was held at The San Diego Natural History Museum in Balboa Park where Hideki Takeuchi’s “Cells at Work!” had its world premiere.
“Cells at Work!” can be placed in many genres. It is a comedy, family melodrama, action fantasy and educational film rolled into one. Based on the anime and manga of the same name, the film explores the lengths to which our cells go to keep our bodies functional. Our main human characters are Shigeru (Sadao Abe) and his daughter Niko (Mana Ashida). Inside their bodies are various anthropomorphic cells battling everyday challenges, alongside life-changing ones.
Director, Takeuchi, who graced us with his presence at the premiere, talked about how nervous he was to adapt “Cells at Work!” While almost all of Takeuchi’s other films are anime adaptations, he faced pressure from the “Cells at Work!” fanbase to adapt the original release faithfully. He chose to keep many elements from the anime like the main conflict of the cells working to keep pathogens away. However, to add more emotional stakes to the film, he created human characters to act as the plot device for many of the issues the cells face inside the body. Given that cells are replicable and are technically not living organisms this seemed like an apt choice.
The various interpretations of what happens in our bodies when say, a scab wound heals or that moment when you really have to poop but can’t find a restroom in time makes for some hilarious visual comedy. For many of these scenes, Takeuchi drew inspiration from his personal relationships and experiences. However, Takeuchi also consulted medical professionals to ensure the biology in the film was accurate. This level of detail is also seen in the set design and costumes that develop the world these cells live in. The depiction of the cells came from Takeuchi’s imagination, creating interesting fight sequences that showcase each cell and pathogen’s unique design and role.
Structurally the film is cut into two parts. The first half introduces you to all the relevant characters and places them in funny situations. About halfway through it takes a complete tonal shift once Niko falls ill. The shift is quite jarring, with there only being about five minutes between her Leukemia diagnosis and a comedic scene where her father takes a dramatic trip to the bathroom. From a production standpoint, the change feels harsh but storywise it reflects how fast and unpredictable life can be. Once the film takes a turn for the melodramatic, we get to see Sadao and Niko’s relationship grow. Takeuchi took great care to show both the beauty and horror of cancer treatment and how someone can come back from it.
Not only will you have a good laugh while watching “Cells at Work!”, but you also learn how your body operates and –most importantly– how to better take care of yourself. When asked what he wanted audiences to take away from the film Takeuchi answered, “I want you to be gentle and nice to your bodies.”
“Cells at Work” is a film that can find laughter in hard times, while also taking the time to teach us important lessons about our lifestyles.
Turn off the Bright Lights 