E-flux Film Notes publishes a conversation between Utako Koguchi and Cici Peng, tied to the upcoming screening "Between Fantasy and the Everyday" at e-flux Screening Room on June 15, 2026. Koguchi, a key figure in 1980s and ’90s feminist and queer experimental film in Japan, discusses her entry into filmmaking at Waseda University, her early influences, and the creation of her diaristic 8mm film O-DE-KA-KE Diary I (1988), which blends surreal performance with documentary-like elements. Her films O-DE-KA-KE Diary and Ophelia's Favorite Book 3 (1995), recently translated by Mia Parnall, will screen with English subtitles for the first time.
This conversation matters because it brings renewed attention to Koguchi's pioneering work in feminist and queer experimental cinema, which has been historically underrepresented in English-language discourse. The screening at e-flux, a prominent platform for contemporary art and film, marks a significant moment for the rediscovery and translation of Japanese avant-garde filmmaking from the 1980s and 1990s, offering new audiences access to Koguchi's unique blend of surrealism, autobiography, and social commentary.