June 2008

Tanaka-San Will Not Do Callisthenics is Maree Delofski’s latest documentary. Filmed in Japan, it explores the ingenuity and determination of Tetsuro Tanaka who was dismissed from his job a quarter of century ago in a time when most Japanese workers believed they had a job for life. In a world that places a premium on conformity, Tanaka-san has found a way of staying true to himself, demanding an apology and re-instatement every day for twenty five years outside the company gate. Maree has written, directed and shot Tanaka-san Will Not Do Callisthenics.

Earlier work

Maree’s most recent release is the documentary The Trouble with Merle which she researched, wrote and directed. In the film, Maree travels to Tasmania, India and Canada exploring the mysterious origins of the legendary film star Merle Oberon While some Tasmanians claim she was born on that little island at the bottom of the world, on the other side of the world there are other, different stories. The Trouble with Merle has screened on television and at festivals nationally and internationally and has won several awards including the prestigious NSW Premier’s History Award. The script for The Trouble with Merle was shortlisted for the NSW Premier’s Literary Award (Screenwriting).

Other projects include the award winning Australian Film Institute (AFI) nominated documentary, A Calcutta Christmas which she researched, wrote and directed. A Calcutta Christmas is a portrait of a group of elderly Anglo-Indians living in a home in the Indian city of Calcutta. The film has screened on Australian and international television including the Sundance Channel and won numerous awards in international festivals. Other films that have screened internationally include the short comedy drama Every Little Breeze and the AFI nominated feature length documentary Philippines My Philippines.

Maree began filmmaking in London with the radical filmmaking workshop Cinema Action.