Show Biz Japan
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Japanese Film Screenings
Hannari – Geisha Modern – (April 1) There have been numerous documentaries on Geisha customs that are limited to educating the audience through narration and interviews with scholars. “Hannari-Geisha Modern is a documentary film that is much more visual and aural, allowing the audience to take in the atmosphere through the images, instrumental sounds and soft, melodic dialect of the geisha. (Language: Japanese with English subtitles, Runtime: 110 min) The producer/director, Miyuki Sohara has trained alongside geisha in Kyoto, working for several years to cultivate relationships within the geisha community. Her efforts, experience, and passion in this field have created a piece of art that no one can replicate. “Hannari-Giesha Modern” is showing in Los Angeles, at the Fine Arts Theatre, on Sunday, April 1, 2007, at 1PM. To purchase tickets, please visit the website at: http://www.geishamodern.com/purchase_tickets.html. 
The Winds of God－Kamikaze－ (April 8 – 21) “The Winds of God–Kamikaze“ is a theater play performed in NY off-Broadway, Hawaii and all over Japan in last 18 years. Now the director/star/screenwriter, Masayuki Imai has transformed this powerful play into an unforgettable film. STORY: Present day New York. A Couple of unsuccessful comedians Mike and Kinta meet with an accident. A collision with a large truck propels their souls back in time to WWII and into the bodies of two Kamikaze pilots. Kamikaze Mike and Kinta – who have retained their memories and personalities – struggle against the harsh discipline and even harsher commitment expected of them. Team J Station, in association with L-Company present the Los Angeles premiere of the film at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood from April 8th to April 21st. It is shown only once a day, starting at 7:00pm. The director Masayuki Imai will appear on stage at the premiere on April 8th. For more information, please call Team J Station at 1-866-614-1011. Memories of Tomorrow (NY: Middle of May / LA: Beginning of June / SF: Middle of June) *This title will be screened with "What the Snow Brings". Starring Ken Watanabe and Kanako Higuchi, "Memories of Tomorrow" is considered to be one of the greatest films of the year. This film received several prestigious awards in Japan, including the best leading actor (Ken Watanabe) in this year's Japan Academy Awards. STORY: Saeki, a sales manager of an advertisement agency, turns 50 this year. His strong leadership abilities brought love and respect from everyone he works with. Since his job is demanding, he has always relied on his good health. Yet lately, he has become rather forgetful and blames it on his age. His only daughter's wedding is nearing, and he will soon become a grandfather. One day, he is struck with a sudden physical downturn that starts impeding his work. He goes in for a precautionary checkup where, to his dismay, the doctor diagnosed him with "Early Onset Alzheimer's disease". He and his wife, Emiko, are daunted with unspeakable fear and sorrow, as he will gradually but certainly lose his memory. As they start their fight against the disease, the couple desperately hopes that Saeki "will be able to work until [his] daughter's wedding." Nonetheless, the disease mercilessly destroys his memory, little by little... More details about screening dates and places will soon be announced at http://www.t-a-e.net/. 
What the Snow Brings (NY: Middle of May / LA: Beginning of June / SF: Middle of June) *This title will be screened with "Memories of Tomorrow". "What the Snow Brings", a heart-warming movie, swept 4 prestigious awards in the Tokyo International Film Festival 2005, including the Grand Prix, the Best Director, the Best Leading Actor, and the Audience Prize. Starring the well-known Japanese actor Koichi Sato and the young new star Yusuke Iseya, the film has become a sensation and touched every audience's heart. It is considered to be a "must-see" for the year. STORY: When you lost everything, is there a place you can go back to? Manabu Yazaki, who had big dreams of success in Tokyo, loses his high-class lifestyle as well as his family and returns home to the Hokkaido heartland in midwinter. There his elder brother Takeo manages a stable for "Banei horserace," a sleigh-pulling race unique to Hokkaido. Their long overdue reunion exposes the gap between them even more. And to make the matters worse, Takeo will not allow his brother to see their aging mother who is living in a nursing home. However, while he watches Manabu interact with the sometimes-quirky stable workers and the horses as they face the challenges of racing, day in and day out, Takeo decides to have his brother meet their mother. Gradually the two men develop an understanding between the two. In the end, Manabu puts his all into taking care of the horse that was supposed to be killed for not taking home the prize money in its rode to recovery. For Manabu, this becomes his chance to "reset" his own life and a hope for his new start… More details about screening dates and places will soon be announced at http://www.t-a-e.net/. |
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