Rotterdam Film Festival

[TKBowman]

The Rotterdam Film Festival announced it's Japanese film selection last week
and I'm impressed by the sheer number of Japanese films being presented.

Perhaps one reason for the large number is the inclusion of a 10-film
retrospective of director Mochizuki Rokuro. I had no idea he was so prolific.
They don't include production dates on the site but it sounds from the
descriptions that many are post-ONIBI films, and ONIBI is from 1997. Anyone
seen or have recommendations from the below list? I've only seen ONIBI and
thought it was excellent (though perhaps marred by a somewhat weak ending).

Directed by Mochizuki Rokuro
"Chi no shuseki - Mu Kokuseki No Otoko"
"Debuso" (Apron Stage)
"Gedo" (The Outer Way)
"Gokudo zange roku"(Mobster's Confession)
"Gokudo Kisha" (The Wicked Reporter)
"Koi Gokudo" (A Yakuza in Love)
"Onibi: The Fire Within"
"Shin Gokuda Kisha - Nigeuma desetsu" (Wicked Report 3)
"Shin kanashiki hitman"  (Another Lonely Hitman)
"Skinless Night"

The rest of the Japanese features are scattered across various programs:

"Bounce KoGals,"  Masato Harada 
"Cure,"  Kiyoshi Kurosawa
"French Dressing,"  Hisashi Saito
"Hana-bi," (Fireworks)  Takeshi Kitano
"Kioku-ga Ushenawareta-toki" (Without Memory), Kore-Eda Hirokazu 
"Nemuru otoko" (Sleeping Man), Oguri Kohei
"Postman Blues," Sabu 
"Somando monogatari" (The Weald), Kawase (Sento) Naomi 
"Unagi" (The Eel),  Imamura Shohei 
"Yume no ginga" (Labyrinth of Dreams),  Ishii Sogo

Looks like a very strong selection - I've heard a lot of good things about
many of the above films from this list and elsewhere. I'm especially
interested in catching Cure, Postman Blues, and Bounce KoGals - plus French
Dressing looks like it might be interesting. The two new features from Kore-
Eda and Kawase are both documentaries.

It also looks that it's continuing to be a good year for actor Koji Yakusho
who has roles in 4 of the above features (even if he is sleeping for all/most
of one of them).

On a related note I was wondering if any other list members are planning on
going to the festival or Cinemart?  Please drop me a line...I would love to
get together. The person I am travelling with had a change of plans and can
only stay a few days and I would love to meet some of you. Also, if anyone has
any previous experience with film reservation or ticket ordering I would be
very appreciative - I can't seem to find any of this info on the web site.

The web site by the way is:  http://www.iffrotterdam.nl/

Todd Bowman
tkbowman at aol.com