Ame Agaru

[Bill Thompson]

The following was in today's (Wed., Dec. 23) New York Times in an arts
news section compiled by Lawrence van Gelder, its arts editor:

"Akira Kurosawa's final script will come to the screen next
year, according to plans announced yesterday in Tokyo
by his children and staff.  They said 'Ame Agaru' ('Rain Stops'),
to be made with French financial assistance, would go before
the cameras in April for a hoped-for premiere at the Venice
Film Festival in September, oneyear after the acclaimed
director's death at 88.  Based on a novel by Shugoro
Yamanoto and bearing parallels to Japan's current economic
problems, 'Rain Stops' is a love story about a penniless
samurai and his wife in the Kyoho era (1716-1735), when
Japan paid for the excesses of the preiod that preceded it.
The production will be supervised by Takahashi Koizumi, an
assistant to Kurosawa for nearly 30 years, and will draw
on the talents of others long associated with the filmmaker."

Maybe someone in Tokyo or elsewhere knows more about these
talents or has other information about "Ame Agaru"
such as cast or name of director.  Based on a couple of
other recent postings to this list, etc., the production company
appears to be releasing information gradually.  Or perhaps
the deals are just being finalized now.

Happy Holidays to all!!!

Bill Thompson