Interview with Ema Ryan Yamazaki on Instruments of a Beating Heart

Instruments of a Beating Heart is unquestionably one of the best documentary shorts of the year. After winning the IDA for Best Documentary Short it has deservingly made the nominations for Best Documentary Short at the Oscars. Instruments of a Beating Heart takes an inside look at a class of Grade 1 students in Japan as they learn to plan Ode to Joy for the incoming grade 1 class. It is a short not only about the determination of these children and the support they have one other but also looks at the Japanese eduction system as a whole and how it shapes the children. Pedro was very honoured to sit down with director Ema Ryan Yamazaki to discuss the process of filming these children and the creation of the short. Hit play on the podcast above to check out their full conversation.