1997年北海道で、とある一軒の映画館が解体された。 解体の前年。『この消え行く映画館の姿をフィルムに残したい！』という坪川監督の呼び掛けに多くの俳優、スタッフ等が賛同し、1996年に製作が開始された。 北海道、東京、長野の各地にて撮影が続けられ、9年の歳月をかけ2005年に完成した。
主演に吉田日出子、高橋喜久代、そして、本作完成直後に惜しくも他界した高木均。 助演には、小松政夫、常田富士男、あがた森魚、山田吾一、 真那胡敬二等の芸達者な面々が脇を固める。
音楽は、コンポステラ、栗コーダーカルテット、 など様々な人気バンドで活躍するテューバ奏者の関島岳郎。
更に、戦前の映画館のシーンや、劇中劇となる無声映画には『上海バンスキング』等で有名な、元オンシアター自由劇場の俳優達が出演。演技のみならず演奏の腕前も披露している。
A happening in 1996. In a small town in northern Japan a solitary movie theater was torn down. This movie theater was called the "Oshamanbe Theater". It was built in the early days of the 20th century and it closed in 1971. It was a traditional Japanese theater.
In the 25 years after the theater closed, no one was allowed In side the building. This was the wish of the owner. It remained a reminder, frozen in time, of its glorious and lustrous past and continued to be loved by the townspeople. However, when the town was struck by a powerful earthquake, it became necessary to bring the aged and fragile building down.
The director, Takushi TSUBOKAWA, was born in this town. In the summer of 1996 he returned and learned about the fate that was about to befall the theater . "I felt I could at least preserve this movie theater in film." This led to his resolution to make the film. His calls for support received the approval of many actors and cinema support staff, who then agreed to participate in the project for no remuneration. Production began in the winter of 1996. He continued to film despite the many interruptions brought on by financial difficulties. This year, 9 years after filming began, "Clouds of Yesterday" reached its completion.
The lead actor, the widely known and respected〈Hitoshi TAKAGI〉, died suddenly at 78, one month after the film was completed. This was the first and the last film he appeared in as the lead.
The lead actress was 〈Hideko YOSHIDA〉. She has appeared in the director Peter GREENAWAY's production of "The Pillow Book" and has had a long and distinguished career in the world of Japanese theater and film.
In addition, 〈Kikuyo TAKAHASHI〉made her film debut here.
〈Masao KOMATSU〉, known and loved throughout Japan as a popular comedian, appeared as a silent film narrator ("benshi").
〈Fujio TOKITA〉has received numerous awards for his work as a radio actor and in his one-man shows. He and other actors who appear in this film have honed their skills as performers in Japanese theater and film.
