New Film White Land Explores Family Reunion After Korean War Divide
YAKUTIA.INFO. Yakutsk director Stepan Burnashev has begun filming his new short film, White Land, starring renowned Japanese actor Keisuke Nomura.
Production is taking place in Yakutsk, the village of Khatassy, and is also scheduled in Tokyo.
The protagonist of White Land, Haru (played by Keisuke Nomura), is a Zainichi—a Japanese citizen of Korean descent. Decades earlier, the Korean War tore his family apart: some relatives remained in Japan, while others found a new home in Yakutia. Years later, Haru travels to Yakutia, where he is reunited with long-lost kin.
"I want to make a film about how people reconnect—not through grand words, but through shared actions and care for one another. For me, it's important to be an observer here. The people on screen are a family, and the crew is like invisible guests in their home. Instead of a musical score, the film will feature the natural sounds of the house, the snow, the water, and breathing. It will be a quiet, honest story about everyday life, where a stranger gradually becomes one of your own, and a sense of 'we' emerges between people," Burnashev shared about his creative vision.
Keisuke Nomura is a Tokyo-based theater and film actor best known for his roles in The Visitors, Wasabi: Not Just a Fairy Tale, and the popular Japanese TV series Yoshihiko and the Seven Heroes. While filming in Yakutia, the actor experienced a number of firsts: enduring temperatures as low as –40°C, learning about local traditions and daily life, and sampling Yakut delicacies like stroganina (frozen fish slices) and other regional dishes.
