| 2003-10-29 | | | The YAMAGATA Documentary Film Library Friday Theater (November–December) |
On the second and fourth Fridays of each month the YIDFF Organizing Committee holds screenings of films which are not shown at commercial theaters, such as documentary films including the Film Library Collection films, pre-war Japanese films, masterpieces, independent works, experimental films, and animation at the 40-seat theater. Tomonokai (support) members can join the Friday Theater for free (membership fee is 1,000 yen for six months). Anyone is welcome to join the Tomonokai.
The YAMAGATA Documentary Film Library Friday Theater
- Family Portrait: Japan in the 1950s and 60s Part 5
• November 14 (Friday)
14:00, 19:00 (program screens twice) - Children With Nowhere to Play (“Asobiba no nai kodomotachi”)
Direction, Cinematography: Kikuchi Shu / 1965 / 37 min
Life in the Wilderness (“Genya ni ikiru”) 1963 / 64 min
In 1955 volunteers from the National Association of Housewives (Fujin Renmei) established Sakura Motion Picture Co., which gained the nickname “Mommy (Hahaoya) Productions” and went on to produce numerous films on themes close to the hearts of women. Featured in the fifth installment of this series looking back at Japan in the 1950s and 1960s are two dramatic features: Kikuchi Shu’s (well known as cameraman for Kamei Fumio) examination of the changes in children’s playgrounds and modes of play in big cities; and the story of a family living in the wilderness of Hokkaido.
Forgotten Film History—Final Chapter
• November 21 (Friday)
14:00, 19:00 (program screens twice)- How Fierce! (“Oh! Mouretsu”) Morino Ko / 1969 / 40 min
Climax (“Kuraimakkusu”) Okuwaki Toshio / 1968 / 64 min
The seventh and final installment in a series tracing the history of independent adult movies (Pink films) in the 1960s. These works may have been conveniently erased from the pages of Japan’s cinematic history, but one thing is for certain: even today, the viewer can sense the painstaking effort invested in them by their creators. This time we take an all-inclusive look back at the good, bad and ugly filmmakers of the 1960s. (Additional screenings and schedule changes to be announced)
Family Portrait: Japan in the 1950s and 60s Part 5
• December 12 (Friday)
14:00, 18:30 (program screens twice)- The Walk of a Cat (“Neko no Sanpo”)
Yamamoto Kajiro / 1962 / 30 min
The Battle Against Endemic Diseases (“Fudobyo to no Tatakai”)
Director, cinematographer: Kikuchi Shu / Editor: Kamei Fumio / 1962 / 30 min
A Family’s Growth (“Kazoku no Nenrin”)
Horiuchi Masaru / 1965 / 64 min
In 1955, volunteers from the National Association of Housewives (Fujin Renmei) established Sakura Motion Picture Co., which gained the nickname “Mommy (Hahaoya) Productions” and went on to produce numerous films on themes close to the hearts of women. The sixth installment of this series looking back at Japan in the 1950s and 1960s includes a look at city life from the perspective of a stray cat; a study of endemic diseases on Amami Oshima and Shikoku; and a tale of a solitary old man living in an apartment complex. A collection of works where the numerous problems arising from Japan’s rapid economic growth shift in and out of focus.
YIDFF 2003 Encore Screenings Part 1
• December 19 (Friday)
14:00, 18:30 (program screens twice)- Purity
Anat Zuria / 2002 / 63 min / Special Prize, Citizens’ Prize
Hitler’s Highway
Lech Kowalski / 2002 / 81 min
A series of encore screenings focusing mainly on award-winning works from YIDFF 2003 begins this month. First up is International Competition Special Prize and Citizens’ Prize winner Purity from Israel, accompanied by Hitler’s Highway, in which the camera slices off a fresh perspective on the legacy of Hitler.
[Venue] The YAMAGATA Documentary Film Library (Yamagata Big Wing 3F)
[Admission] Free for Tomonokai members. (Membership fee: 1,000 yen for six months)
[Contact] phone: 023-666-4480 (Yamagata office)