Toronto int'l film fest

[Mark Schilling]

From: Mark Schilling <schill at gol.com>
> To: Kinejapan <KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu>
> Subject: Toronto int'l film fest
> Date: Thursday, July 09, 1998 

Re the Japanese picks for Toronto -- the best by far of the ones I have
seen is Hirokazu Kore'eda's After Life (Japanese title: Wonderful Life), a
beautiful, evocative, profoundly touching film about "guides" in Limbo who
help the newly dead select one memory of their earthly life for their
transition to Paradise. Although its themes can also be found in Kore-eda's
earlier work, including the 1995 Maborosi, this film truly deserves the
overused adjective "original." It won't be released in Japan until this
fall, but Donald Richie has already selected it for the "100 best films"
list that he is compling for his new book on the history of Japanese
cinema.  

I have also reviewewed Detective Riko and Unlucky Monkey for Premiere and
Cure and Ping Pong Hot Springs for the Japan Times -- too much to post
here! 

But definitely see After Life. 

Mark Schilling


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