Below are Hiro’s selects and what he had to say:

Essential: Films

Hi. I’m bad at making lists, so I’ll just take this opportunity to share some thoughts on what I’ve watched (and rewatched) in the past year. Hope you enjoy.

Sans Soleil (Sunless) (1983)

Directed by Chris Marker

This film was recommended to me by my buddy (and editor) Kyle when I was watching a bunch of travelogue movies last year. Watching this in quarantine was a totally disorienting and visceral experience. It feels like a documentary about the collapse of space and time narrated by a wistful alien. It’s incredible and made me think a lot about the act of filmmaking.

My Neighbor Totoro (1988)

Directed by Hayao Miyazaki

This was my favorite movie as a child, and having rewatched it last month it might still be. It’s so intimate and well observed. It’s like an Ozu movie that happens to have a giant cat-shaped bus in it. And Mei is my favorite depiction of a kid in any film ever.

Burning (2018)

Directed by Lee Chang-dong

I keep coming back to this movie since it came out in 2018. That scene in the middle of the film where the three characters get high and Jeon Jong-seo’s character starts dancing during twilight is all I want out of movies. I’ve been tearing through all of Lee-chang Dong’s movies since.

Some Kind of Heaven (2020)

Directed by Lance Oppenheim

I just watched this documentary last night and thought it was beautiful. It’s garish and refined and nauseating and poignant. I also love anything filmed in 4:3.

Amadeus (1984)

Directed by Miloš Forman

Amadeus rules.

Essential: Music Videos

I have a long long list of music videos that mean a lot to me, but here are a couple I think about a lot.

‘Sing Along’ Múm (2009)

Directed by Kevin Phillips

I saw this when I first started directing videos and found it really inspiring. Kevin is a genius.

‘After Life’ Arcade Fire (2009)

Directed by Emily Kai Bock

Story-driven videos are really hard to pull off, but I think this one’s a total masterpiece.

‘Drop’ The Pharcyde (1995)

Directed by Spike Jonze

Pretty sure this is what made me want to direct music videos.

‘Faking Jazz Together’ Connan Mockasin (2012)

Directed by Fleur & Manu

I used to have a recurring dream that felt exactly like this video. Once in a while, I get a weird craving for it.

Essential: Reading

I’m breaking the rules, sorry.

‘A Swim in a Pond in the Rain’ (2021)

Written by George Saunders

I’m reading George Saunders’ ‘A Swim in a Pond’ right now and it’s the best book I’ve ever read on storytelling.