Shanghai International Film Festival announced on May 18 that in addition to the previously announced “Chasuke’s Journey”, eight other popular Japanese films will be shown including“La LaLa at Rock Bottom”, “Ecotherapy Getaway Holiday”, “Midnight Diner”,“100 Yen’s Love”,“The Furthest End Awaits”, “Pale Moon”, “A Farewell to Jinu”, and “Till Death Do Us What?”.
“La LaLa at Rock Bottom” Presents the Changes of Japan from a Micro Perspective
Japan is one of the world’s major film producers. Japanese film industry has a long history having brought out world-known film masters like Akira Kurosawa and YasujiroOzu. Japanese films rank one of the highest in the world in both quality and quantity. In China, there are a large number of Japanese film lovers too.
In every year’s Shanghai International Film Festival,some latest Japanese films that have gained success in box office and public praise will be shown in addition to the long-standing section of Japanese Film Week, which is greatly favored by Japanese film fans. This year, when these fine or sharp Japanese films are shown in cinemas, the organizing committee has also invited popular Japanese stars loved by Chinese spectators to Shanghai. Those films will certainly be very popular and heatedly pursued by the spectators.
“La LaLa at Rock Bottom”is directed by the well-known Japanese director Nobuhiro Yamashita. Its leading actor is SubaruShibutani, a member of “KanjaniEight”, a popular Japanese idol group, and its heroine is NikaidouFumi, a popular new generation actress. The film tells the story of a violent young man who is amnesiac meeting a young lady who’s a band manager. The young lady finds his extraordinary singing talents. With a deep sense of reminiscence, the film reflects Nobuhiro Yamashita’s great capabilities as a writer and director.
“Ecotherapy Getaway Holiday” is a work of Japanese director Shuichi Okita in 2014, telling the journey of seven elderly women. The tourist group loses contact with the tourist guide and carries out a journey of two days and one night themselves. Together they go to the mountains and see beautiful falls. The film is performed by amateur actors, but under the guide of Shuichi Okita, their performances are as good as professionals. And seven women’s personality traits are also manifested by the fine and smooth presentation.
“100 Yen’s Love” tells the story of a girl who has just graduated from college and seems not successful at all, demonstrating a miniature life of those living at the bottom and edges of the Japanese society. With a sharp style, the film is quite meaningful.
“The Furthest End Awaits” is directed by Chiang Hsiu-Chiung, a female director of Taiwan, China, giving it a style of Taiwan art films. The film is finely made from a unique female perspective, interpreting the steps of changes in women relationship: strangeness, misunderstanding, prejudice, tolerance, understanding, and mutual help.
“Midnight Diner”Presents a Small Heart-warming Story, Very Touching
In addition to the fine and deep films with strong cultural atmosphere, the festival will also show a group of star-studded outstanding works.
Adapted from a TV series which is adapted from a famous comic,“Midnight Diner” is definitely a great popularity. In a small hotel, joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness are all staged. It’s a small heart-warming story, but very touching. And the guest stars will also attract a lot of fans.
“Pale Moon” directed byDaihachi Yoshida known by “The Kirishima Thing” and starred by RieMiyazawa is a typical Japanese crime film, telling the story of a housewife involved in an immoral love affair and a corruption crisis. The director, with very fine film language, pushes the heroine to the center of the whirlpool step by step. There are compassion and understanding in the film as well as irony and criticism. With superb acting, heroine Rie Miyazawa won the best leading actress of Tokyo International Film Festival.
“A Farewell to Jinu” is adapted from a popular comic written byMikioIgarashi. It’s directed by Suzuki Matsuo who hadn’t directed any film for seven years. The film has a star-studded cast including Takako Matsu, NikaidouFumi, and ToshiyukiNishida, in addition to Ryuhei Matsuda.
“Till Death Do Us What?” is directed by Koji Maeda and starred by Kuranosuke Sasaki. In a light and humorous style, it tells how a man and a woman meet and marry, and the man’s imaginations about the life with his wife after she dies.This Japanese independent film gives out a strong breath of positive energy. The emotions of sadness and joy are measured just right. It’s moving, with smiles and tears.
In addition to the popular Japanese films announced this time, more outstanding films will be announced later. Please stay tuned. It’s worth noting that the 18th Shanghai International Film Festival will be held between June 13 and June21.TheInternational Film Show will also open simultaneously. Tickets will start to be sold on June 6 officially. Dianying.taobao.com has been appointed“the official ticketing platform” of Shanghai International Film Festival to provide a better user experience for spectators and film fans. More films to be shown will be announced later.