Kinbaku (2009 documentary)
Jouni Hokkanen's 29-minute Finnish documentary about kinbakushi and the bond between people who practice Japanese rope bondage, shown at the Sapporo Short Fest in 2010.
Kinbaku is a 29-minute documentary short by the Finnish director Jouni Hokkanen. The program of the 5th Sapporo Short Fest dates it 2009 and lists it as one of two documentaries in the festival’s adult-oriented Midnight Programme, screened at Sapporo Toho Plaza on October 8, 2010.
The festival’s note describes the film as a portrait of kinbakushi, the people who tie, and of the erotic, spiritual and artistic connection between those who practice the art, to which it attributes a sacred quality.
TV Guide’s film database lists the documentary under 2010, with the same running time of 29 minutes, and lists four people appearing as themselves: Osada Steve, Asagi Ageha, Yukimura Haruki and Kitagawa Shuhei. Its short description glosses kinbaku as “tight binding”, a Japanese bondage style of simple but visually intricate patterns tied with several lengths of rope, usually hemp or jute. For 2010 the same listing records a nomination for best short and a special mention as best international short documentary, without naming the festivals.