<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv=Content-Type>
<META name=GENERATOR content="MSHTML 8.00.6001.19190">
<STYLE></STYLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Goodness, talk about everything at once. I can't see it on
the website yet of Cinema Ritrovato but I had a public newsletter this week
announcing a season of early Japanese talkies at Bologna, curated by listmembers
Alex Jacoby and Johan Nordström. That's from 23rd to 30th June and I booked my
hotel this morning so I also hope that Somai travels. I think it's
inconceivable that Edinburgh would show Japanese films without
subtitles.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>And that falls in the middle of a BFI London season in
June and July of Shindo and Yoshimura. At least films get two screenings
there.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>If you have further advance intelligence, please
share.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Roger</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"
dir=ltr>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT: 10pt arial; BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=mekerpan@verizon.net href="mailto:mekerpan@verizon.net">Michael
Kerpan</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
title=KineJapan@lists.acs.ohio-state.edu
href="mailto:KineJapan@lists.acs.ohio-state.edu">KineJapan@lists.acs.ohio-state.edu</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, April 11, 2012 8:45
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FILM
FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES SHINJI SOMAI RETROSPECTIVE</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #fff; FONT-FAMILY: garamond, new york, times, serif; COLOR: #000; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">
<DIV style="RIGHT: auto"><SPAN style="RIGHT: auto">I hope the
retrospectives travels around a bit. I'd love to see the Harvard
Film Archive host it.</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV style="RIGHT: auto"><SPAN style="RIGHT: auto"></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV style="RIGHT: auto"><SPAN style="RIGHT: auto">It seems a shame that two
of Japans best contemporary directors -- Somai and Jun Ichikawa were both
under-appreciated -- and both untimely taken away.</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV style="RIGHT: auto"><SPAN style="RIGHT: auto"></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV style="RIGHT: auto"><SPAN style="RIGHT: auto">I can't believe that
Ohikkoshi / Moving has never gotten a Western release (given all the whines
one hears about the lack of family friendly movies). I can't imagine a
better movie about a child coping with the divorce of parents has ever been
made.</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV style="RIGHT: auto"><SPAN style="RIGHT: auto"><VAR
id=yui-ie-cursor></VAR></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV style="RIGHT: auto"><BR style="RIGHT: auto"></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: garamond, new york, times, serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">
<DIV
style="FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times, serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">
<DIV style="RIGHT: auto" dir=ltr><FONT size=2 face=Arial>
<DIV
style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #ccc 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #ccc 1px solid; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; LINE-HEIGHT: 0; MARGIN: 5px 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; HEIGHT: 0px; FONT-SIZE: 0px; BORDER-TOP: #ccc 1px solid; BORDER-RIGHT: #ccc 1px solid; PADDING-TOP: 0px"
class=hr contentEditable=false readonly="true"></DIV><B><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">From:</SPAN></B> Aaron Gerow
<Aaron.gerow@yale.edu><BR><B><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">To:</SPAN></B> KineJapan@lists.acs.ohio-state.edu
<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sent:</SPAN></B> Wednesday, April 11,
2012 3:18 PM<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Subject:</SPAN></B>
EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES SHINJI SOMAI
RETROSPECTIVE<BR></FONT></DIV><BR>EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
ANNOUNCES SHINJI SOMAI RETROSPECTIVE<BR><BR>Edinburgh – 11 April 2012:
The Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) is pleased to present a
Retrospective of Japanese director Shinji Somai’s work as part of the 2012
programme. Greatly admired in Japan, Somai is only beginning to receive
international recognition, as is highlighted by the fact that many of Somai’s
films will have their first UK screening at the EIFF, and several will be
European premieres. The EIFF runs from 20 June to 1 July
2012.<BR><BR>The films of Shinji Somai (1948-2001) are a constant source of
inspiration for Japanese filmmakers. His body of work spans the 1980s and
1990s, a period in Japanese film history that remains little explored by
Western film scholars and largely inaccessible to Western audiences. Yet
without an understanding of this period, and of Somai’s significance, it is
impossible to understand the transition from the golden age of Japanese studio
filmmaking to the recent explosion of personal, independent filmmaking in
Japan.<BR><BR>A unique stylist in a variety of popular genres, Somai made
films that were well received in Japan by both critics and the general public.
Among the films to screen at EIFF will be SAILOR SUIT AND MACHINE GUN (1981);
P.P. RIDER (1983); THE CATCH (1983); TYPHOON CLUB (1985); MOVING (1993); THE
FRIENDS (1994) and WAIT AND SEE (1998). Further Retrospective titles
will be announced at a later date.<BR><BR>Chris Fujiwara, EIFF Artistic
Director, said: “Shinji Somai is one of the most personal and original
Japanese filmmakers, and a master whose work has been almost completely
neglected outside Japan. Just over ten years after his passing, I believe the
time is right for Somai. Audiences and critics will be amazed by what they
discover in this body of work, which I’m delighted to bring to the
UK.”<BR><BR>Kanako Hayashi, director of TOKYO FILMeX, collaborator on the
Retrospective with EIFF, said: "Last November, TOKYO FILMeX held a full
retrospective of Shinji Somai’s films at the 10th anniversary of his passing.
A large audience, including our filmmaker guests from abroad, enjoyed them a
lot. He was one of the most important filmmakers in Japan at the end of the
20th century, and his films should be introduced all over the world at
present, just as if he were continuing to make films today. (In fact, Somai
was just one year younger than Takeshi Kitano.) I urge lovers of film not to
miss this chance to follow Somai’s unique artistic trajectory throughout his
works at Edinburgh."<BR><BR>For further information, please
contact:<BR><BR>The EIFF Press Team at Organic Marketing:<BR><BR><A
href="mailto:EIFFPRteam@organic-marketing.co.uk"
ymailto="mailto:EIFFPRteam@organic-marketing.co.uk">EIFFPRteam@organic-marketing.co.uk</A><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>The
Edinburgh International Film Festival 20 June - 1 July 2012<BR><BR>The full
EIFF 2012 Programme Launch is on 30 May<BR><BR>EIFF Box Office opens on 31
May<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>About the Edinburgh International Film
Festival:<BR><BR>Established in 1947, the Edinburgh International Film
Festival is renowned around the world for discovering and promoting the very
best in international cinema - and for heralding and debating changes in
global filmmaking. Intimate in its scale, ambitious in its scope, and fuelled
by pure passion for cinema in all its manifestations, EIFF seeks to spotlight
the most exciting and innovative new film talent, in a setting steeped in
history. <BR><BR><BR><BR>Notable films premiered in recent years have
included: 35 SHOTS OF RUM, THE HURT LOCKER, MOON, FISH TANK, LET THE RIGHT ONE
IN, SOMERS TOWN, MAN ON WIRE, CONTROL, KNOCKED UP, RATATOUILLE, LITTLE MISS
SUNSHINE, AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH, TSOTSI, BILLY ELLIOT and AMORES
PERROS.<BR><BR><BR><BR>EIFF is supported by Creative Scotland, The City of
Edinburgh Council, the Scottish Government through the Edinburgh Festival’s
Expo Fund and the BFI. EIFF is proud to be part of the Year of Creative
Scotland, a Scottish Government initiative led in partnership by
EventScotland, VisitScotland, Creative Scotland and VOCAL, which will
spotlight and celebrate Scotland’s cultural and creative strengths on a world
stage.<BR><BR><BR><BR>The Centre for the Moving Image (CMI) was founded in
2010 with a vision to be the lead agency for film and the moving image in
Scotland. The CMI currently comprises the EIFF, Edinburgh Filmhouse and
Edinburgh Film Guild and its aim is to lead, inspire, educate and entertain in
the moving image space. The CMI is currently developing an ambitious
plan to create new businesses and initiatives in Scotland related to film
thought and
practice.<BR><BR><BR><BR></DIV></DIV></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>