Japanese Film Festival 2019
Image: More than 100,000 people were estimated to have attended Midsumma Carnival throughout the day yesterday. (PHOTO: Burke Photography; Star Observer)
The 23rd Japanese Film Festival arrives in Sydney with a program of 29 feature films and one documentary which is certain to generate much interest amongst the discerning movie-going public.
Japanese cinema has progressively gained more attention in recent years, especially since the Cannes award-winning film Shoplifters garnered global prominence. “Most of the western world only know Japanese cinema through the animated features and it’s becoming much more popular worldwide, but it is still quite small and niche in that sense,” explained festival programmer Susan Bui.
Japan is the world leader in animated film production and two animated features are included in the program this year. “Ride Your Wave is one of the animated films screening and it’s a beautiful romantic film about a girl who moves to the ocean, falls in love and runs into some mishaps.”
Audiences who enjoy dramedies shouldn’t miss My Father, The Bride the story of a father who comes to terms with the death of his wife and starts to dress up in her clothing. He decides to marry a man. “This storyline is not seen in Japanese films very often at all. It’s about coming to terms with modern families and how sexual identity can change over time.”
Could audiences be swayed to visit Japan upon attending screenings at this festival? “Yes definitely, because we program films which offer different perspectives on Japanese culture and some of the films vary from explicit modern daily life interactions to films which are specific to cultural practices.” (MMo)
Nov 14–24. Event Cinemas George St. $16.50-$75+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.japanesefilmfestival.net
HOT PICKS
SIBLINGS OF THE CAPE – A dark film about an intellectually disabled woman who is cared for by her disabled brother and they struggle to make ends meet. Q&A follows the screening with director Shinzo Katayama.
THE LEGEND OF THE STARDUST BROTHERS – A remastered 1985 classic about two wannabe rock stars who join forces and become a successful rock band. Reminiscent of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
TOWER OF THE SUN – A documentary that explores the socially and politically engaged philosophy of Japan’s Picasso, Taro Okamoto a prolific avant-garde artist.
