Experience cinema from the land of the rising sun, anime and samurais at the
Japanese Film Festival.
This year's 14th JFF offers some exciting new elements including an
Anime Matsuri, Australian premieres, special guests and prizes to be won.
According to the website you can: "Feast yourself on multiple shots of cultural cocktails at this season's serve of cinematic screenings."
Up to nineteen films are included in the schedule, showcasing different aspects of Japanese culture from traditional customs to contemporary issues and the collision between the old and new.
About Her Brother, opens the festival, a moving and funny story by acclaimed director Yoji Yamada about a brother and sister - Tetsuro, a failed comedian and his caring older sister Ginko.
Tetsuro had been disowned by his sister due to his oddball, embarrassing, loud behaviour. Tetsuro's terminal illness marks the beginning of the pair's reconciliation, love and toleration and provides hope for any brother-sister relationship. Watch the trailer
here.
Castle Under Fiery Skies directed by Mitsutoshi Tanaka explores the holy grail of carpentry the Azuchi Castle and a peasant carpenter renowned for his "divine hands". "An unmissable insight into the world of traditional Japanese architecture and carpentry in a period drama setting."
Confessions a huge Japanese box office hit plunges into a world of obsession, retribution and vengeance about a teacher, looking for the murderer of her four year old daughter within the students from her own class.
For the Samurai film buffs
Sword of Desperation tells the story of Kanemi a skilled swordsman who has vowed to protect his lord from the evil clutches of his most trusted lover, an ex-prostitute named Renko.
No Japanese film festival would be complete without Anime, special guests include Naoyoshi Shiotani (director of "Tokyo Marble Chocolate" and "Oblivion Island: Haruka and the Magic Mirror").
Held in co-operation with SMASH Sydney Manga and Anime Show the two part matsuri screenings include:
Time of Eve plus a beautiful short film
Precious, a double feature -
Oblivion Island: Haruka and the Magic Mirro and
Tokyo Marble Chocolate.
Animation of the Year (Japan Academy Prizes 2009) Oblivion Island reflects the life of a daydreaming teenager who enters Oblivion Island after following a strange creature resembling a fox. "Will Haruka find her long lost memories and make it back with them?"
