Walking the Shanghai Dog

[Aaron Gerow]

The news services reported that Shinozaki Makoto's Inu to arukeba 
(Walking the Dog) was awarded the Asian New Talent Award for Best Film 
at the 7th Shanghai International Film Festival. It may seem curious 
that Shinozaki, who has directed Okaeri and Wasurerenu hitobito, as 
well as a couple video movies, would be classified as a "new talent", 
but the festival rules stipulate that a film is eligible if it is one 
of the director's first three films. Inu to arukeba is Shinozaki's 
third theatrical film. The jury said "The script showed subtlety and 
maturity, blending humor and serious drama with exceptional 
smoothness." Inu to arukeba is one of a number of dog movies to be 
released in the last few years in what could be called--jokingly, of 
course--the "dog days" of Japanese cinema.

The press here is mainly taking it up because Tanaka Naoki, of the 
popular TV comedy due Kokoriko, stars in the film.

Aaron Gerow
KineJapan owner

Assistant Professor
Film Studies Program/East Asian Languages and Literatures
Yale University

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