Fw:Masters of Japanese Cinema

[mark schilling]

Here's the English-language press release for the Masters of Japanese Cinema
series, which may be of interest to the list.

Mark Schilling
schill at jcom.home.ne.jp

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "TOKYO FILMeX press" <press at filmex.net>
To: "TOKYO FILMeX press" <press at filmex.net>
Sent: Wednesday, May 26, 2004 10:03 PM
Subject: Release from TOKYO FILMeX - Masters of the Japanese Cinema


NEWS RELEASE
                                                    May 25, 2004
                                                    TOKYO FILMeX

=================================================================
         The Japan Foundation Film Series Part I
            Masters of the Japanese Cinema
    A Special Three-Day Film Showing with English Subtitles

           June 25 (Fri.) to June 27 (Sun.),
          The Japan Foundation Forum, Akasaka
=================================================================

Presented by: The Japan Foundation
With the special cooperation of: TOKYO FILMeX Organizing Committee
With the cooperation of: Shochiku and Nikkatsu

Tickets for single film showings are ?600.

Venue: The Japan Foundation Forum
Akasaka Twin Tower, 1F, 2-17-22 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0052
Nearest station: Tameike-Sanno (Ginza and Namboku subway lines), Exit12

The Japan Foundation Tel:    Tel:03-5562-3535 (10:00?17:30, weekdays only)
The Japan Foundation Forum    Tel:03-5562-4096 (June 25?27 only)

====
This film screenings aim to introduce Japanese culture through Japanese
films with English subtitles. The Japan Foundation has been introducing
Japanese films with foreign subtitles in the world. However there are few
chances to see subtitled Japanese films here in Japan. Through this film
screenings, we would like everyone, not only Japanese people but also those
whose mother tongues are not Japanese, to enjoy the masterpieces of Japan?s
great directors and to observe the great contribution of brilliant actresses
to the films.

*Programms;
Scandal
(Shubun, 1950, 104 mins., b/w, Shochiku, new 35mm print)
Directed by KUROSAWA Akira, with MIFUNE Toshiro, YAMAGUCHI Yoshiko, SHIMURA
Takashi.
The mass media smears an artist (Mifune) and a singer (Yamaguchi), and they
go to the courts for vindication, more hindered than aided by a crooked
lawyer (Shimura). Kurosawa?s most impassioned protest against the unfairness
of yellow journalism. Kurosawa made this film just before Rashomon. With a
score by Fumio Hayasaka.
Friday, June 25, 7:00 pm.

Osaka Elegy
(Naniwa Ereji, 1936, 71 mins., b/w, Daiichi Eiga / Shochiku Otani Library,
35mm print)
Directed by MIZOGUCHI Kenji, with YAMADA Isuzu, UMEMURA Yoko, SHINDO Eitaro.
A young switchboard operator (Yamada), trying to make both ends meet, allows
herself to be set up as the mistress of her employer. Breaking free, and
trying to help her brother, she falls into the same situation yet again.
This was Yoshikata Yoda?s first script for the director and the beginning of
one of the most creative of film partnerships.
Saturday, June 26, 1:00 pm.

?Japanese Film,? a one-hour lecture in English (with Japanese
interpretation) by Donald Richie, recognized as a Western authority on
Japanese film and author of many books on the subject. In his short talk,
Richie will offer a historical context for the films shown and indicate some
of the difficulties of their foreign distribution.
Saturday, June 26, 2:30 pm. (Admission free.)

The Idiot
(Hakuchi, 1951, 166 mins., b/w, Shochiku, new 35mm print)
Directed by KUROSAWA Akira, with HARA Setsuko, MORI Masayuki, MIFUNE
Toshiro.
The director?s famed adaptation of the Dostoevsky novel in snowbound
Hokkaido with two men (Mori and Mifune) in love with an elusive lady (Hara).
Cut from the original four-hour version (never released), this is all that
is left of the film that the director called his favorite.
Saturday, June 26, 4:00 pm.

The Masseurs and a Woman
(Anma to Onna, 1938, 65 mins., b/w, Shochiku, 16mm print)
Directed by SHIMIZU Hiroshi, with TAKEMINE Mieko, TOKUDAIJI Shin, HIMORI
Shin?ichi.
Though Shimizu was until recently (the FILMeX 2003 and National Film
Center?s retrospective) forgotten, he is now revealed as one of Japan?s most
innovative directors. This sparkling light comedy owes its effervescence to
its being almost scriptless, having been largely improvised by the director
and his cast while on location.
Sunday, June 27, 1:00 pm.

The Yellow Crow
(Kiiroi Karasu, 1957, 104 mins., color, Shochiku, 35mm print)
Directed by GOSHO Heinosuke, with AWASHIMA Chikage, ITO Yunosuke, SHITARA
Koji.
When his father returns from the war, a little boy (Shitara) finds it
difficult to adjust to this comparative stranger. He feels rejected and
estranged from both his parents. Gosho was one of the major film chroniclers
of the ups and downs of middle-class Japanese life and made this film just
after another film about children, the masterful Growing Up.
Sunday, June 27, 2:30 pm.

Kokoro
(Kokoro, 1955, 122 mins., b/w, Nikkatsu, 35mm print)
Directed by ICHIKAWA Kon, with MORI Masayuki, ARATAMA Michiyo, YASUI Shoji,
MIHASHI Tatsuya.
This film version of NATSUME Soseki?s famous novel (sometimes translated as
The Heart) is one of director Ichikawa?s finest literary adaptations. A
young student (Yasui) idolizes his teacher (Mori) and then discovers the
doubts to which this professor is prey. Ichikawa made the film just before
The Harp of Burma.
Sunday, June 27, 4:40 pm.

*Contact;
TOKYO FILMeX office (OKAZAKI)
3rd Floor,5-5-11 Akasaka,Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0052 Japan
Tel:+81-3-3560-6393?FAX:+81-3-3586-0201
okazaki at filmex.net