Japanese films at HKIFF

[Miles Wood]

After suffering through a prevew of the truly dreadful RYUKO, IN THE
UNFAITFUL EVENING (Kanashiku Naruhodo Fujitsuna Yozoora Ni) yesterday I
thought I seek the opinions of list members on this year's selection.
While my taste in films is not exactly in line with that of the festival
programmer -- it would be nice, but I don't expect to see the latest
Godzilla film playing --  I do feel once again that the HKIFF is failing
to represent what's "happening" in Japanese cinema which I do think
should be one of the Festival's aims. Interestingly, this is the first
time the HKIFF has shown anything by Miike Takashi (the programmer told
me a couple of years ago he didn't like his stuff) and I'm informed the
Chinese write-up in the booking folder is almost apologetic about the
film! Anyway, here's what's one:

ALL ABOUT LILY CHOU-CHOU
THE COLOR OF LIFE (late night)
PRINCESS BLADE (Shura Yukihime) (late night)
ICHI THE KILLER (Kororshiya Ichi)
ALEXEI AND THE SPRING
A2
KUROSAWA
A TREE OF PALME (Palumu No Ki)
PATLABOR 3 (kidou Keisatsu Patlabor W XIII)
TOWN OF LOVE (Ai No Machi) (1928)
H STORY (Japan/France)
HOLE IN THE SKY (Sora no ana)
LILY FESTIVAL (Yurisai)
A PAINFUL PAIR
TOKYO X EROTICA
BLUE SPRING (Aoi Haru)
WAVE (Nami)
HAZY LIFE (Donten Sekatsu)
KICHIKU
WHEN SLACKERS DREAM OF THE MOON (Pooten No Tsuki)
RYUKO, IN THE UNFAITFUL EVENING (Kanashiku Naruhodo Fujitsuna Yozoora
Ni)
The last four titles are playing under the banner "Planet Osaka."

Miles