Cycle
From 24.09. To 02.10.2007.
Contemporary Japanese films
Films in cycle
Women in the Mirror
(Kagami no onnatachi, 2002)
Directed by: Kiju Yoshida
PHOTOGRAPHY: Masao Nakabori
Synopsis:
Natsuki lives in Tokyo with her grandmother Ai Kawase. She has never seen her mother, who abandoned her immediately after giving birth to her in the hospital. A woman called Masako, who suffers from amnesia, is caught because she stole a child. Soon, we find out that she is in fact Natsuko’s mother…
color, 35 mm, 129 min
PROJECTION:
Tuesday 25.09.2007 AT 19:00
Monday 24.09.2007 AT 20:00
By player
(Sanmon yakusha, 2000)
Directed by: Kaneto Shindô
PHOTOGRAPHY: Yoshiyuke Miyake
Synopsis:
This is a biography of the famous character actor Taiji Tonoyama who started acting in 1950s. He played in more than 250 films and collaborated with Kaneto Shindô. Tonoyami’s first leading role was in Shindô’s film Hadaka no shima (1960). In Taiji’s biography we learn about his relationship with his wife Asako and his young mistress Kimie.
color, 35 mm, 126 min
PROJECTION:
Wednesday 26.09.2007 AT 19:00
Tuesday 25.09.2007 AT 21:15
Go
(2001)
Directed by: Isao Yukisada
PHOTOGRAPHY: Katsumi Yanagishima
Synopsis:
Sugihama is a high-school kid who, besides typical teenage and love problems, has difficulties because of his origins. Namely, he is a “Zaichi”- second generation of North Koreans who live in Japan. Even though they are physically almost identical to Japanese people, these Koreans are not fully integrated into Japanese society. After Sugihama gets expelled from a North Korean school because he swore in Japanese, he is equally unlucky in a Japanese school.
color, 35 mm, 122 min
PROJECTION:
Thursday 27.09.2007 AT 19:00
Wednesday 26.09.2007 AT 21:15
Ping-Pong Bath Station
(Takkyű Onsen, 1998)
Directed by: Gen Yamakawa
PHOTOGRAPHY: Tokusho Kikumura
Synopsis:
Sonoko is a housewife who wants more from her monotonous life and busy husband who neglects her. Since she has nobody else to turn to, she calls Kanae, host of a radio show. Kanae gives her impulsive advice to leave everything and go to a retreat, Takkyu. Sonoko listens to this unconventional advice and later in the retreat meets Kanae.
color, 35 mm, 110 min
PROJECTION:
Friday 28.09.2007 AT 19:00
Thursday 27.09.2007 AT 21:00
Ramblers
(Realism no yado, 2004)
Directed by: Nobuhiro Yamashita
PHOTOGRAPHY: Ryűto Kondô
Synopsis:
Two young men, Tsuboi and Kinoshita, arrive at a deserted train station outside of the city. They are amateur filmmakers about to meet with a real film star who is potentially interested in starring in their film. But, a few minutes before their scheduled meeting, they receive a message that the star will be late and possibly will not be able to meet them at all.
color, 35 mm, 83 min
PROJECTION:
Saturday 29.09.2007 AT 19:00
Friday 28.09.2007 AT 21:00
The Necessity of Deep Breathing
(Sinkokyű no hitsuyô, 2004)
Directed by: Tetsuo Shinohara
PHOTOGRAPHY: Takahide Shibanushi
Synopsis:
A group of young people travel to the island of Okinawa in order to escape a past they would rather forget. On the island they have to cut down 70,000 sugar cane stalks in 35 days. If they fail, their employers, a nice old married couple, will go bankrupt. While some people are considering leaving the island, other choose to stick it out and deal with the hard work and obstacles ahead of them.
color, 35 mm, 123 min
PROJECTION:
Monday 01.10.2007 AT 19:00
Saturday 29.09.2007 AT 21:00
Bright Future
(Akarui mirai, 2003)
Directed by: Kiyoshi Kurosawa
PHOTOGRAPHY: Takahide Shibanushi
Synopsis:
Yűji Nimura and Mamoru Arita are colleagues and friends. They are equally unambitious and disinterested in the world around them. They spend their time at work or in Mamoru’s apartment and do not talk about anything at all. Yűji is a silent guy, asocial and with a blank face, while Mamoru has a mysterious smile and takes care of a poisonous jelly fish that he tries to get accustomed to living in drinking water.