Japan
An Appreciation – Rashomon
Rashomon (1950) has left such an indelible cultural impact that its very name has taken a life of its own. The film was made early in the career of director Akira Kurosawa, introducing him and Japanese cinema to the world stage. It has been referenced by generations…
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Film Review – Belle
The Japanese film Belle (2021) exemplifies how animation can be utilized to transport us into fantasy worlds. Because we are fully aware that those are not real people or places shown on screen, we’re given more flexibility to accept what we see and immerse ourselves deeper into…
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Film Review – The Summit of the Gods
The Summit of the Gods (2021) starts out as a mystery and evolves into something more than that. Featuring gorgeous, realistic animation, the film investigates the reasons why people go on personal conquests that put them in extreme physical danger. Whether it be diving into the…
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SIFF Double Feature – The Legend of the Stardust Brothers and Timeless Beauty
The Legend of the Stardust Brothers: This lost 1985 musical directed by Macoto Tezuka builds on Phantom Of The Paradise and The Rocky Horror Picture Show to create Japan’s own goofy rock opera. Amateur singers Kan (Kan Takagi) and Shingo (Shingo Kubota) are brought together…
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SIFF Double Feature – Le Chocolat de H and The Woman Who Loves Giraffes
Le Chocolat de H: Takashi Watanabe’s first documentary feature is about Japanese chocolatier Hironobu Tsujiguchi. Tsujiguchi grew up over a confectionary shop, later opened a world-class patisserie, and then turned his sights to the world of chocolate. Winning 5 gold medals at the Salon du…
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Film Review – Blade of the Immortal
Blade of the Immortal is an action-packed samurai film that gives the thrill of battle and enough complexity in its characters and concepts to keep you invested in more than just the awesome sword battles! Jumping right in, samurai Manji (Takuya Kimura) is being hunted…
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