Every year, Japan Foundation Manila holds Eiga Sai. A Japanese film showing session for japanese language enthusiasts or for anyone who appreciates japanese flicks. Theme of films show would depend on the association. One time, it was all love stories, the next were horror flicks, and so on.
This time though, there seem to be a change in plans since documentaries have now taken the line-up of the said event.
As usual, Japan Foundation Manila has teamed up with Shangri-la Plaza and UP Film Institute to showcase Video Act! Japanese Documentary Film Now!” absolutely FREE. These are a combination of real life facts based on political, cultural and social issues in Japan.
NOTE: To view schedule of films, please click on image on left.
Here is a synopsis of each of the 5 award winning japanese films to be shown.
This year’s offering brings an especially satisfying choice of 5-films starting with the film shot in the Philippines titled, ‘Basura’ directed by Hiroshi Shinomiya. The film presents the lives of impoverished residents thriving to live and make a living in Smokey Mountain, a huge garbage dump site in the Philippines. This movie follows the life of the trash scavengers that the director covered and interviewed in his previous films.
‘A Normal Life, Please!’, directed by Tokachi Tsuchiya blows the lid on the Japanese government’s gradual easing of labour regulations, as an overworked truck driver takes up the flight for worker’s rights in Japan. The film won the 2009 Best Documentary in the 17th Raindance Film Festival in London and the Muhr Asia Africa Awards of the 6th Dubai International Film Festival.
‘Chain of Life – the Artistry of Mokuhanzome Kimono’, directed by Kaori Ishii, examines the life of an artisan who uses cherry blossom wood stamps to transform a solid piece of fabric into a kimono. This piece of fabric used the oldest dyeing technique in history, called Mokuhanzome wood print dyeing. Although this technique had once become almost extinct, in the artisan’s eyes, it appeared as something entirely new; and, that was where his exploration of the technique began.
The film ‘A Permanent Part-timer in Distress’ directed by Hiroki Iwabuchi chronicles the lives of freeters – a Japanese term referring to educated young people between the ages of 15 to 34 who are forced to work low-paying, unskilled part-time jobs. It also explores Iwabuchi’s journey as he becomes a spokesperson and lobbyist for the rights of freeters in Japan.
Finally, ‘The Sparkle of Fragments’, directed by Shinji Takahashi narrates the story of mentally ill patients at the Hirakawa Hospital attending plastic arts workshop. Most of them had never made any drawings before, but have gradually attached great importance to practice art as an irreplaceable act for their existence. The film won an Audience Award for Documentary at the 2008 Veseol International Film Festival of Asian Cinema in France.
Of course, all films will be shown with English subtitles. For detailed screening schedules and inquiries, please access the Japan Foundation, Manila website: www.jfmo.org.ph or call the JFM telephone numbers (+632) 811-6155 to 58.
NOTE: To view schedule of films, please click on image found above.
