"Iwai in the World, in Asia" honoring filmmaker Iwai Shunji on 4/18 @ Eileen Norris Cinema Theatre, USC

[Jonathan M Hall]

Be there or be online!
jmh

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USC East Asian Distinguished Visual Cultures Program presents


IWAI  SHUNJI


Saturday, April 18, 2009

Eileen Norris Cinema Theatre

University of Southern California



Please RSVP to  eascrsvp at usc.edu  with your name & number of guests.



Schedule

12:00-2:30pm  Screening of ALL ABOUT LILY CHOU-CHOU

2:30-4:30pm    Panel on "Iwai in the World, in Asia"

4:30-6:30pm    Screening of LOVE LETTER

6:30-7:15pm    Q&A with Filmmaker Iwai Shunji

7:15-8:00pm    Reception in honor of Iwai Shunji



The panel discussion will feature Michael Berry (Associate Professor  
of Contemporary Chinese Cultural Studies, University of California  
Santa Barbara), Dong Hoon Kim (Postdoctoral Fellow, School of  
Cinematic Arts, University of Southern California), Sachiko Mizuno  
(Doctoral Candidate, Film, TV, and Digital Media, University of  
California Los Angeles), Akira Lippit, Moderator (Professor of  
Comparative Literature, East Asian Languages and Cultures, and  
Critical Studies in Cinematic Arts, University of Southern California).



IWAI SHUNJI



One of the most popular and influential Japanese directors of his  
generation, the multi-talented Shunji Iwai is commonly recognized for  
his distinctive and innovative visual style. Although describing  
himself as an "eizo sakka" (visual artist), characters and plot  
themes are often excellently developed in his films, all of which he  
has personally scripted. Iwai has also edited several of his films,  
and has even scored the music for more recent efforts. Often using  
women protagonists, Iwai has garnered fine performances from Japanese  
Pop singers in key roles, most notably Miho Nakayama in Love Letter  
(1995) and Chara in Pikunikku (1996) and Suwarôteiru (1996). A  
trend-setter, he has created a style that resonates with Japanese pop  
culture, striking a chord with contemporary Japanese youth,  
especially young women. (Excerpt from http://www.imdb.com/name/ 
nm0412517/bio).



ALL ABOUT LILY CHOU-CHOU (2001), 146 min



Life isn't easy for a group of high school kids growing up in Japan's  
pervasive pop/cyber culture. As they negotiate teen badlands- school  
bullies, parents from another planet, lurid snapshots of sex and  
death- these everyday rebels without a cause seek sanctuary, even  
salvation, through pop star savior Lily Chou-Chou, embracing her sad,  
dreamy songs and sharing their fears and secrets in Lilyholic chat  
rooms. Immersed in the speed of everyday troubles, their lives  
inevitably climax in a fatal collision between real and virtual  
identities, a final logging-off from innocence. (Synopsis from http:// 
www.imdb.com/title/tt0297721/plotsummary).



LOVE LETTER (1995), 117 min



Hiroko Watanabe's fiancé Itsuki died two years earlier in a  
mountain climbing accident. While looking through his high school  
yearbook, Hiroko in a fit of grief decides to write a letter to him  
using his old school address. Surprisingly she receives a reply, not  
from the dead Itsuki, but from a woman with the same name whom had  
known Hiroko's fiancé in school. A relationship develops between  
the two women as they continue to exchange letters and share memories  
of the dead Itsuki. (Synopsis from http://www.imdb.com/title/ 
tt0113703/plotsummary).



Sponsored by the USC East Asian Studies Center



For any additional questions, contact us at easc at usc.edu or  
213-740-2991.

Parking is available at PSD for $8. Enter campus through Gate #5 at  
Jefferson Blvd. and McClintock Ave. and proceed to parking kiosk. Off- 
campus parking is also available at lots on Jefferson Blvd. and the  
street.
< http://www.usc.edu/private/about/visit_usc/USC_UPC_map_color.pdf >.
>

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