Meaning of the Interval (1987): Besetzung, Handlung & Streaming

Released in 1987, Meaning of the Interval is a notable film directed by Edin Velez.

What it’s about. Meaning of the Interval is an evocative, subjective essay that explores the inherent contradictions of contemporary Japan, from the rituals of Shinto religion to the nation's fascination with Western pop culture. Constructing a densely layered, nonlinear weave of the mythical and the everyday, Velez probes beneath the surface to unearth ancient, often anarchic tensions. In Velez's rich, transequential collage of imagery, emblems of contemporary Japan — the Bullet train, businessmen and McDonald's — collide with traditional ritual, from Kabuki and Sumo to Shinto. Defying documentary expectations of a narrative voice, Velez redefines the content through a carefully structured progression of visual and aural metaphors. The "interval" of the title relates to the Japanese concept of "ma" — the space between things, a source of energy, tension and balance.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Meaning of the Interval page.