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Presented by Melbourne Recital Centre & Outhouse
GIFT: Eiko Ishibashi x Ryusuke Hamaguchi
An expansive, evolving live cinematic experience.
Multi-instrumentalist Eiko Ishibashi and Academy Award-winning filmmaker Ryusuke Hamaguchi reunite for GIFT–a compelling blend of silent film and live musical performance.
Set in the tranquil Mizubiki Village, GIFT follows Takumi and his daughter Hana, whose peaceful life amid nature faces upheaval when plans emerge for a luxury campsite in their community. As the story unfolds, Ishibashi weaves an intricate live score that reimagines Hamaguchi’s visual poetry into a constantly evolving cinematic experience.
Born from their collaboration on the critically acclaimed 2021 film Drive My Car, this dynamic project has captivated audiences at the Vancouver International Film Festival, New York’s Lincoln Center, and HAU Hebbel am Ufer in Berlin. Boldly redefining the relationship between sound, image and narrative, the result is a breathtaking meditation on the delicate balance between human development and the natural world.
‘Hamaguchi and composer Ishibashi Eiko reimagine the director’s cut with GIFT, a daring new version of Evil Does Not Exist that stands to reinvigorate cinema through its use of live music.’ – Indiewire
‘Her score for Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s opus helped it to Oscar glory. Now the Japanese musician has reunited with its director for a collaboration unlike any other.’ – The Guardian
Presented in partnership with QAGOMA, with support from Crumpler.
Dates & Times
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Duration: 1 hour 15 mins (no interval). Please note, running times are approximate and subject to change.
Tickets
Standard $45 ($35 Concession)
A Transaction Fee between $4 and $8.50 applies to orders made online and by phone. Delivery Fees may also apply. A ticket limit of six is in place online to ensure fair ticket access for all. Want to bring a bigger party? Call our Box Office during business hours on (03) 9699 3333 to book.
About the Artists
Eiko Ishibashi (musician)
Eiko Ishibashi is a Japan-based musician whose work has been released by labels such as Drag City, Black Truffle, and Editions Mego.
In January 2020, she was commissioned to compose music for the exhibition, ‘Japan Supernatural,’ at The Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney. This composition was later released as the album ‘Hyakki Yagyo’ by Black Truffle.
The following year, Ishibashi composed the soundtrack for Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s film Drive My Car. In 2022, she unveiled her new LP ‘For McCoy’ and began her residency on the global radio platform NTS Radio. Continuing her collaboration with Hamaguchi, she created the score for his 2023 film Evil Does Not Exist.
Ishibashi is set to release her new song album ‘Antigone’ in March 2025 via Drag City, marking her first album release in seven years.
Ryusuke Hamaguchi (filmmaker)
Ryusuke Hamaguchi, an alumnus of the Graduate School of Film and New Media at the Tokyo University of the Arts, started to garner international recognition with his 2008 graduate film PASSION at film festivals in Japan and abroad. His feature film Happy Hour (2015), which runs for 317 minutes, was honored with multiple awards at international film festivals. His film Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy (2021) won the Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize at the Berlin International Film Festival. Drive My Car (2021) also received widespread recognition, including the awards for Best Screenplay at the 74th Cannes Film Festival and Best International Feature Film at the 94th Academy Awards. In 2023, his latest film Evil Does Not Exist received numerous awards including the Silver Lion Award (Grand Jury Prize) at the Venice Film Festival and Best Film at the BFI London Film Festival.
Accessibility
Wheelchair access
Language No Barrier
Assistance Animals Welcome
Melbourne Recital Centre
31 Sturt St Southbank 3006
