=?ISO-2022-JP?B?RndkOiBXaGVuIE1hc3RlcnMgd2VyZSBZb3VuZyAbJEIhPQ==?= =?ISO-2022-JP?B?IDE5NjAncw==?=
Aaron Gerow
aaron.gerow
Tue Feb 1 09:47:31 EST 2005
Begin forwarded message:
> From: TOKYO FILMeX press <press at filmex.net>
> Date: 2005.2.1 04:38:07 US/Eastern
> To: TOKYO FILMeX press <press at filmex.net>
> Subject: When Masters were Young ?X 1960's
>
> News Release
> Feb 1, 2005
> TOKYO FILMeX
>
> The Japan Foundation Film Series Part2
> When Masters were Young ?X 1960's
> A Special Three-day Film Showings with English Subtitles
>
> ICHIKAWA Kon, IMAMURA Shohei, OSHIMA Nagisa, SHINODA Masahiro,
> SUZUKI Seijun, YOSHIDA Kiju and YAMADA Yoji
> ---What did these master directors capture during a time of rapid
> social
> change in Japan?
>
>
> Presented by : The Japan Foundation
> With the special cooperation of : TOKYO FILMeX Organizing Committee
> With the cooperation of : Shochiku and Nikkatsu
>
> A single ticket : \600 at the door only.
> A single ticket for members of JF Supporter??s Club : \500 at the door
> only.
>
> 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), Exit
> 12
>
> Info.(Tokyo FILMeX Office) Tel:03-3560-6394 (11:00-17:30, weekdays
> only)
> The Japan Foundation Forum Tel:03-5562-4096 (March 25-27 only)
>
>
> The Japan Foundation has been showing Japanese films with subtitles
> overseas
> as part of its efforts to introduce Japanese culture to the world. The
> Japan
> Foundation is also offering film screenings in Japan for the viewing of
> these films with English subtitles to allow foreign residents of Japan
> the
> opportunity to experience the richness of Japanese cinema.
>
> The Japan Foundation is now offering the series part 2, ??When Masters
> were
> Young ?V1960??s??, which focuses on great works from the 1960??s. This is
> the
> second film festival offered by the Japan Foundation following last
> June??s
> ??Masters of the Japanese Cinema??.
>
> Japan in the 1960??s was enjoying continued economic growth, the number
> of
> salaried employees working in big cities was growing and the lives of
> ordinary people were improving. The 1960??s was also a period of
> dramatic
> changes for Japan. These changes include the liberalization of
> international
> travel and the Tokyo Olympics, both of which occurred in 1964. The
> rise of
> student movements and other factors brought about tumultuous changes to
> Japan??s society during this time. The Japanese film industry
> flourished in
> the 1950??s, but the popularization of the television in the 1960??s
> produced
> a dramatic drop in the number of moviegoers. The ??program pictures??
> flourished, but Japan was still looking for its voice in terms of new
> films.
>
> These screenings offer the chance to see some great works that are not
> likely to be found at typical theaters, while discovering how these
> legends
> of Japanese cinema first developed their own unique styles during their
> younger directing days. These films also offer the chance to reflect
> on the
> 1960??s, a period that is seen as a turning point for Japan??s society.
>
> ///////////////////////////////////////////////
>
> Sing a Song of Sex
> (Nihon Shunkako, 1967, Souzousha=Shochiku, 103mins.,color,
> CinemaScope, 35mm
> print)
> Director: OSHIMA Nagisa,
> Cast: ARAKI Ichiro, KOYAMA Akiko, ITAMI Ichizo YOSHIDA Hideko, KUSHIDA
> Kazuyoshi
> Screenwriter: TAMURA Takeshi, TAJIMA Toshio, SASAKI Mamoru and OSHIMA
> Nagisa
> Cinematographer: TAKADA Akira,
> Art direcrer: TODA Jusho,
> Music: HAYASHI Hikaru
>
> OSHIMA Nagisa, known internationally for such works as ??In the Realm
> of the
> Senses??(Ai no Corrida)?]76?^, ??Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence??(Senjo no
> Merry Christmas)?]83?^and ??Taboo??(Gohatto)?]99?^has consistently taken up
> the themes of sex, the state and politics. ??Sing a Song of Sex?? is an
> important work from the mid-1960??s that adopts these main themes of
> sex and
> the state in an ideological style.
> This is the story of a group of high school students that meet up with
> their
> former teacher Mr. Otake when they encounter protests against the
> anniversary of the accession of the emperor shortly after completing
> their
> college entrance exams. Over drinks at a pub Mr. Otake senses their
> sexual
> frustration and so begins singing bawdy songs, as the high school
> students
> find themselves wandering between their own delusions and reality.
> OSHIMA
> skillfully contrasts the lament of a former Korean prostitute with folk
> songs to offer up some sharp social criticisms.
>
> ------------------------------------------------
> The Lovable Tramp
> (Natsukashii Furaibo, 1966, Shochiku(Ofuna), color, CinemaScope,
> 90mins.,35mm print)
> Director: YAMADA Yoji
> Cast: HANA Hajime, BAISHO Chieko, ARISHIMA Ichiro, NAKAKITA Chieko,
> MAYAMA
> Tomoko
> Screenwriter: YAMADA Yoji and MORISAKI Azuma
> Cinematographer: TAKABA Tetsuo
> Art director: SHIGETA Shigemori
> Music: KINOSHITA Chuji
>
> YAMADA Yoji, famous for his ??Tora-san?? series, ??The Twilight Samurai??
> (02) and ??The Hidden Blade?? (04), made his directorial debut in 1961.
> ??The Lovable Tramp?? is a comedy introducing the prototype personality
> that
> would later be used for ??Tora-san?? series. In this story Saotome, a
> public
> servant with little hope of career advancement, is living a gloomy life
> until he has a chance to encounter with a wanderer named Gen. Despite
> the
> various troubles arising from his contacts with Gen, a strange
> friendship
> develops between the two. This movie describes the sorrows of the lower
> middle class and the human feelings that are so easily forgotten by
> modern
> society.
>
> ------------------------------------------------
> Escape from Japan
> (Nihon Dasshutsu, 1964, Shochiku(Ofuna), color, CinemaScope,
> 96mins.,16mm
> print)
> Director: YOSHIDA Kiju
> Cast: SUZUKI Yasushi, KUWANO Miyuki, MACHIDA Kyosuke, UCHIDA Ryohei,
> SAKAMOTO Sumiko
> Screenwriter: YOSHIDA Kiju
> Cinematographer: NARUSHIMA Touichiro
> Art director: YOSHINO Tadataka
> Music: TAKEMITSU Toru, YAGI Masao
>
> ??Escape from Japan?? is the story about a band member who yearns to go
> to
> America. He is sought after by the police after helping his fellow
> conduct a
> robbery and so must risk it all to escape Japan at a time when the
> nation is
> preparing to host the Olympics. This film, which was produced just
> after ??
> An Affair at Akitsu??(Akitsu Onsen) (62) is a different type of action
> movie
> in which it is more of a satire of the social conditions of the time.
> YOSHIDA Kiju left Shochiku after the distributor cut the last scene
> from
> this film. Since that time he produced several films on his own
> production
> company including ??Eros + Massacre?? (Eros + Gyakusatsu) (70), ??Coup D??
> Etat?? (Kaigenrei) (73) and ??Women in the Mirror?? (Kagami no Onna
> Tachi)(03).
>
> ------------------------------------------------
> The Dry Lake
> (Kawaita Mizuumi, 1960, Shochiku, color, CinemaScope, 88mins.,35mm
> print)
> Director: SHINODA Masahiro
> Cast: MIKAMI Shin??ichiro, IWASHITA Shima, HONOO Kayoko, YAMASHITA Jun??
> ichiro, ITO Yunosuke
> Screenwriter: TERAYAMA Shuji
> Cinematographer: KOSUGI Masao
> Art director: SATO Kiminobu
> Music: TAKEMITSU Toru
>
> SHINODA Masahiro is famous for such works as ??Double Suicide??(Shinju
> Ten
> no Amijima)?]69?^, ??Sharaku?? (95) and ??Spy Sorge?? (03). ??The Dry Lake??
> , his second work, helped to position Shinoda as a core member of the
> new
> wave of directors at Shochiku. This new wave from Shochiku was, made up
> primarily of OSHIMA, YOSHIDA and SHINODA, caused quite a sensation in
> the
> early 1960??s. TERAYAMA Shuji was chosen for the first time in the
> writing
> of this script. This is the story of Shimojo who, while enjoying his
> reckless youth during the turmoil surrounding the 1960 revision of
> U.S.-Japan Security Treaty, breaks away from the student movement and
> daydreams about acts of terrorism. MIKAMI Shinichiro turns in a
> brilliant
> performance as a young man sensing the various contradictions in
> society
> while getting caught up in nihilism. This film also marks the first
> appearance of IWASHITA Shima in a SHINODA work, very soon after her
> professional debut.
>
> ------------------------------------------------
> Alone Across the Pacific
> (Taiheiyo Hitoribocchi, 1963, Ishihara Productions=Nikkatsu, color,
> CinemaScope, 97min., 35mm print)
> Director: ICHIKAWA Kon
> Cast: ISHIHARA Yujiro, MORI Masayuki, TANAKA Kinuyo, ASAOKA Ruriko,
> HANA
> Hajime
> Screenwriter: WADA Natto
> Cinematographer: YAMAZAKI Yoshihiro
> Art director: MATSUYAMA Takashi
> Music: AKUTAGAWA Yasushi, TAKEMITSU Toru
>
> ICHIKAWA Kon has won high praise for a diverse collection of works
> including
> literary adaptation such as ??The Heart??(Kokoro) (55) and
> ??Conflagration??
> (Enjo)??(58) as well as historical dramas and unique documentaries such
> as
> his ??Tokyo Olympiad??(Tokyo Olympic) (65). ??Alone Across the Pacific?? is
> the story of a youth sailing across the Pacific alone in a small yacht
> in
> 1962 before the liberalization of international travel created quite a
> stir
> in the news. By adapting from the best selling memoirs of the same
> name,
> Ichikawa tells the story of a 94-day adventure on the sea and the fight
> against the pains of solitude, while visually conveying the wonders of
> the
> sea. By deftly interweaving reminiscences about the main character??s
> family
> back home, Ichikawa describes the strained relationships between
> parents and
> children as well as the separation between the old and the new.
>
> ------------------------------------------------
> The Insect Woman
> (Nippon Konchuki, 1963, Nikkatsu, b/w, CinemaScope, 123mins.,35mm
> print)
> Director: IMAMURA Shohei
> Cast: HIDARI Sachiko, KITAMURA Kazuo, NAGATO Hiroyuki, YOSHIMURA
> Jitsuko,
> TSUYUGUCHI Shigeru
> Screenwriter: HASEBE Keiji, IMAMURA Shohei
> Cinematographer: HIMEDA Shinsaku
> Art director: NAKAMURA Kimihiko
> Music: MAYUZUMI Toshiro
>
> IMAMURA Shohei is an internationally renowned director, having twice
> won the
> Cannes Film Festival??s Palme d??Or for his ??The Ballad of Narayama??
> (Narayamabushi-ko)(83) and ??The Eel?? (Unagi)(97). Imamura??s works in
> the
> 1960??s such as ??Pigs and Battleships?? (Buta to Gunkan)?]61?^and ??The
> Insect Woman?? helped to define his unique style that came to be known
> as
> the ??serious comedy??. This masterpiece depicts the life of a
> middle-aged
> woman with lots of vitality, but told with the detached clinical style
> similar to a scientific observation of an insect. The movie's
> portrayal of
> the lives of formidable women during and after the war reveals human
> nature
> and desire in their rawest form. HIDARI Sachiko won the Best Actress
> Award
> at the 1964 Berlin International Film Festival for her role in this
> film.
>
> ------------------------------------------------
> Tokyo Nagaremono (The Tokyo Wanderer)
> (Tokyo Nagaremono, 1966, Nikkatsu, color, CinemaScope, 83min., 35mm
> print)
> Director: SUZUKI Seijun
> Cast: WATARI Tetsuya, MATSUBARA Chieko, NITANI Hideaki, KAWACHI Tamio,
> GO
> Eiji
> Screenwriter: KAWAUCHI Kohan
> Cinematographer: MINE Shigeyoshi
> Art director: KIMURA Takeo
> Music: KABURAGI Hajime
>
> SUZUKI Seijun has been fascinating audiences with his unique sense of
> ascetics as seen in his film ??Zigeunerweisen?? (80). His latest film
> ??Princess Racoon?? (Operetta Tanuki Goten) (05) will feature the popular
> Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi. ??The Tokyo Wanderer?? is one of his earlier
> masterpieces and helped develop the framework for this genre of
> movies. The
> movie employs a vivid sense of color and bold inventiveness. The hero
> ??Tetsu the Phoenix?? is a former gangster that is forced to flee from
> Tokyo
> to escape former enemies, the Otsuka clan. The theme song is used as
> the
> main motif while bringing together different story elements such as the
> hard-boiled Tokyo portion, the chivalrous Niigata portion and the
> comedic
> Kita-Kyushu portion of the movie.
>
> /////////////////////////////////
> ??Timetable???@
>
> March 25 (Fri.)
> 19:00?@Sing a Song of Sex
>
> March 26 (Sat.)
> 13:00?@The Lovable Tramp
> 15:00?@Escape from Japan
> 16:45?@Lecture by YOSHIDA Kiju
> 19:00 The Dry Lake
>
> March 27 (Sun)
> 11:30?@Alone Across the Pacific
> 14:00?@The Insect Woman
> 17:00 The Tokyo Wanderer
>
> Contact:
> TOKYO FILMeX office (Okazaki)
> 3rd Floor, 5-5-11, Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0052
> TEL: 03-3560-6394 FAX:03-3586-0201
> e-mail: okazaki at filmex.net
>
>
>
>
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