<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><font size="2" class="">Hi all~</font><div class=""><font size="2" class=""><br class=""></font></div><div class=""><font size="2" class="">There is a free screening of Kawase Naomi’s new film, <i class="">True Mothers, </i>at Japan House online (they are doing a fair number of free screenings, and it might be worth getting on their mailing list…). Here is a link and description, from the website—film is ongoing till March 10 (PST). Link: <a href="https://www.japanhousela.com/events/film-screening-true-mothers/" class="">https://www.japanhousela.com/events/film-screening-true-mothers/</a></font></div><div class=""><font size="2" class="">There is also a talk event with Kawase and Claudia Puig, chair of the LA Film Critics Assoc, from 5-6pm (PST) tomorrow, Tues Mar 2. <a href="https://www.japanhousela.com/events/mothers-and-film-making-evening-with-naomi-kawase-and-claudia-puig/" class="">https://www.japanhousela.com/events/mothers-and-film-making-evening-with-naomi-kawase-and-claudia-puig/</a></font></div><div class=""><font size="2" class=""><br class=""></font></div><div class=""><font size="2" class="">Anne</font></div><div class=""><font size="2" class=""><br class=""></font></div><blockquote style="margin: 0 0 0 40px; border: none; padding: 0px;" class=""><div class=""><p style="margin: 0px 0px 2em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.5; font-family: Sabon, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, "Noto Serif JP", ヒラギノ角ゴシック, "Hiragino Sans", メイリオ, Meiryo, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box; orphans: 2; widows: 2; text-decoration-thickness: initial;" class=""><font size="2" class="">JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles is honored to offer a special screening of Naomi Kawase’s film <span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;" class="">True Mothers</span>, which has been selected to represent Japan for 2021 Oscar consideration in the International Film category. This is only the third time in 67 submissions that Japan has chosen a film directed by a woman to represent the country. The critically acclaimed film first premiered at the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival.</font></p></div><div class=""><p style="margin: 0px 0px 2em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.5; font-family: Sabon, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, "Noto Serif JP", ヒラギノ角ゴシック, "Hiragino Sans", メイリオ, Meiryo, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box; orphans: 2; widows: 2; text-decoration-thickness: initial;" class=""><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;" class=""><font size="2" class="">Synopsis</font></strong></p></div><div class=""><p style="margin: 0px 0px 2em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.5; font-family: Sabon, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, "Noto Serif JP", ヒラギノ角ゴシック, "Hiragino Sans", メイリオ, Meiryo, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box; orphans: 2; widows: 2; text-decoration-thickness: initial;" class=""><font size="2" class=""><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;" class="">True Mothers</span>, adapted from the novel by Mizuki Tsujimura, is a compelling story with unexpected twists about adoption and motherhood. Set in modern-day Tokyo, a couple who is unable to conceive a child after struggling with infertility is presented with an alternative option. Satoko and her husband, Kiyokazu, are at a crossroads in their journey to parenthood; not wanting to seek invasive fertility treatments. A solution comes to them in a tv commercial promoting an adoption organization in Hiroshima. Through the organization, the couple adopts a baby boy, Asato, who ultimately completes their family and fulfills their dream to become parents.</font></p></div><div class=""><p style="margin: 0px 0px 2em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.5; font-family: Sabon, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, "Noto Serif JP", ヒラギノ角ゴシック, "Hiragino Sans", メイリオ, Meiryo, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box; orphans: 2; widows: 2; text-decoration-thickness: initial;" class=""><font size="2" class="">The story of Hikari, Asato’s birthmother, is interwoven throughout the film, showing how their lives ultimately intersect, as well as highlighting the contrasts between the characters and their circumstances. Hikari, a young girl of 14 when she becomes pregnant, is sent to the adoption organization where she gives birth to her baby. The twist in the story, which is actually presented earlier in the film, occurs when Asato is a happy six-year-old, and Hikari reappears in their lives demanding him back.</font></p></div><div class=""><br class=""></div></blockquote></body></html>