WORLD PREMIERE of UNPLAYED LULLABY: A New film from Japan by Former Cape Cod Teacher Steven J Martin

The lyrical, independent Japanese film Unplayed Lullaby, with creators from Cape Cod, will have its world premiere by Hyannis Film Festival on Thursday, July 28, at 529 Main Street in Hyannis, a community event space that’s part of Sturgis Public Charter School.

American born Steven J. Martin, a former teacher at Riverview School on Cape Cod, Cape Cod Academy, and Sturgis Charter Public School in Hyannis, wrote and directed Unplayed Lullaby, which is co-produced by Martin and his two costars as part of their company Must See Pictures. The movie is set for a premiere in Tokyo this fall.

Unplayed Lullaby tells the story of a mysterious friendship that takes place over the course of five days between two women, the guarded Sae and the uninhibited Sara, in powerful performances by Tokyo stage and film actors Nana Akuzawa and Kozue Ito

Told through magical realism, extended takes, and stunning cinematography, together the two women discover revelations about trauma, family, growing up, and what it means to be a mother, wife, friend, and daughter in a society of increasingly aloof individuals. Martin, Akuzawa, and Ito will all appear for the premiere in Hyannis, with additional public events for the filmmakers being planned by Hyannis Film Festival. Cinematographer Taiki Magyar and photographer film colorist Geoffrey Bassett, both from Cape Cod, are among the production crew.

This visually striking movie is filmed in the beautiful oceanside location of Miho no Matsubara in Shizuoka, part of the Mt. Fuji UNESCO World Heritage Site and designated by Japan as a Place of Scenic Beauty. Viewers should see parallels to picturesque locations on Cape Cod and along the New England seashore.

Moviegoers also might recognize influences in the film from Ingmar Bergman’s Persona, movies by Nicolas Roeg, and other classic film directors. Judges who previewed Unplayed Lullaby for its fall debut in Tokyo lauded Nana Akuzawa as “best actress” in a feature and gave the film “best” ratings for its cinematography and screenplay.