Snow as Flowers: Niino’s Snow Festival

Directed by Shinkichi Noda

This film documents a snow festival with a history dating to the 13th century held at Izu Shrine in the Niino community of Anan-cho, a small town located in the Shimoina District of Nagano Prefecture. The winter snow that falls during the festival is thought to herald the abundant life force of spring. Noda completed this film over a five-year period beginning in 1974, visiting the festival each year with a small staff and editing the footage as he shot.