A young Chinese man is walking the streets of Shibuya, as he is being approached by a foreigner who asks him to sign a petition for animal rights, and another who asks him for a lighter. Eventually, he arrives at his destination, a building where he is supposed to have a job interview. What becomes evident from the beginning of the interview is that his Japanese are not good at all, while his liaison, a middle-aged woman, is doing everything in her power to hide the fact. Eventually, he is asked the crucial question by the committee, to give a brief speech about himself and the motivation behind his will to have this job.

Signature screened at Toronto International Film Festival

This speech, which the protagonist has learnt by heart, is, actually, the focal point of the short, as it presents the quintessence of what Japanese (companies) consider as virtue. In that fashion, he speaks about tradition and heritage, the respect towards the family and his elders, the will to work hard and learn, while he also acknowledges the technological prowess of the country. The speech also works on a secondary level, as one could easily consider it as a guide on how to succeed in a job interview in Japan. However, I have to admit I am not sure if the latter was the ulterior motive of the director or if he wanted to criticize the tactics of the large Japanese corporations and the conservatism that seems to characterize them.

Nevertheless, Yulai Li gives a truly compelling speech, which benefits the most by his characteristic voice, and his struggle to remember a rather large piece, in a language he does not know that well. Miki Ogawa’s cinematography is among the best aspects of the short, particularly as he highlights the various aspects of life in Shibuya.

“Signature” is a well-produced, interesting short, which seems to work in many levels, and definitely deserves a watch.