Tetsurô Sano

Movies

Words with Gods
Director of Photography
The first of four installments in the groundbreaking Heartbeat of the World anthology film series. Comprised of several short films by some of the world's most exciting directors, Words with Gods follows the theme of religion - specifically as it relates to an individual's relationship with his/her god or gods...or the lack thereof. In Words with Gods, each director recounts a narrative centered around human fragility, as well as environmental and cultural crises involving specific religions with which each has a personal relationship; including early Aboriginal Spirituality, Umbanda, Buddhism, the Abrahamic faiths, Hinduism, and Atheism. An animated sequence by Mexican animator Maribel Martinez is woven through each of the film segments, with each segment narratively connected as a feature-length film.
252: Signal of Life
Director of Photography
At some point in the distant future, a massive, catastrophic earthquake strikes Tokyo, causing the temperature of the Pacific Ocean to rise meteorically and the largest typhoon in recorded Japanese history to sweep toward the city and inundate it with water. The Tokyo Fire Department and its team of crack rescuers swing into action, and shortly after they do, a distress call arises from an underground subway station - with repeated indications of the rescue code, 252 252, and the exclamation "We Have Survivors." It soon becomes apparent that the local rescue squad must attempt to save the survivors, doing so at the expense of their own lives and safety. Written by Nathan Southern
Dream Cruise
Cinematography
Absolutely terrified of the sea, an American lawyer reluctantly goes on an ocean cruise to be near the wife of a client, with no idea of the grim situation that awaits them all.
The Frame
Director of Photography
Japanese director Satoshi Isaka spins this taunt thriller about an ultra-ambitious reporter who soon finds herself on the receiving end of tabloid dirt. Popular television actress Hitomi Kuroki stars as Yuko, an ice-queen TV news editor who is approached by a mysterious man from the PTT Ministry. The man offers her proof, on videotape, that a major university is bribing a particular government official to overlook a massive media merger. The secret transaction has already resulted in the death of one investigator. Yuko promptly broadcasts the damning footage, and high-ranking bureaucrat Aso (Takanori Jinnai) is forced out of office.
Voyeurs, Inc. - Enjo Kosai
Cinematography
Based on the popular comic series by Hideo Yamamoto serialized in Weekly Young Sunday. Stars Asumi Miwa (Love & Pop). The film depicts a "peeping tom" who uncovers people's darker sides by following them and eavesdropping on their conversations.
Detective Riko
Director of Photography
The film centers on Riko Murakami, a tough-as-nails detective who is also the single mother of a young boy. At work, she has hit a wall investigating a grisly murder in a hotel room. In her private life, she sweats her son's impeding "park debut" -- when she introduces her son and herself to the young mothers of her neighborhood. Most give her strange almost hostile looks except Sachiko (Keiko Unno), who says her kid is in the hospital. While her son gambles about the playground, Riko and Sachiko exchange child-rearing war stories and soon become friends. Then she learns that the prime suspect of her case is none other than Sachiko's husband. Moreover, she learns that Sachiko's son was in fact the center of a kidnapping case several years ago and the child has been long thought of as dead. Her husband and the detective in charge of child's case both have their own secrets, and soon Riko finds herself and her son threatened.
New Shonan Bombing Tribe: Rough KNIGHT 2
Director of Photography
The second film in the 'Rough Knight' series.
New Shonan Bombing Tribe: Rough KNIGHT
Director of Photography
The first film in the 'Rough Knight' series
Isana no umi
Director of Photography
Renji grew up in a family that runs a pelagic fishing business and vaguely thinks about becoming a fisherman in the future. He is attracted to Kyoko, a new transfer student to his fisheries school who is knowledgeable about whales, but there is a big difference of opinion between Renji, who thinks whaling is wrong, and Kyoko, who advocates whale protection.
Focus
Cinematography
A short, direct and to-the-point media-commentary thriller. A sleazy TV producer trying to exploit a quiet otaku (an obsessive hobbyist) whose hobby is electronic eavesdropping ends up getting a lot more than he bargained for when they eavesdrop on the wrong conversation and he prods said otaku into helping him "investigate" the lead, only to find out that some things (and people) are not always as they seem, when a minor altercation causes things to take a rather nasty turn....
新のぞき屋 盗聴尾行のぞきます
Cinematography
An erotic mystery based on Hideo Yamamoto's comic of the same title, directed by Takeshi Yokoi Yokoi. A mysterious man eavesdrops on an affair between a teacher and a student at a prep school and harasses him. The teacher asks a member of "Voyeurs, Inc." to investigate.