ACF 1241: A RATIONAL MIND: THE FILMS OF EDWARD YANG

Yi Yi

A Rational Mind: The Films of Edward Yang

When November 22-27, 2011

Where: The Film Society of Lincoln Center

The Walter Read Theater, 165 West 65 Street 

“Life is a mixture of happy and sad things. Movies are so lifelike—that’s why we love them.”
“Then who needs movies? Just stay home and live life.”
“My uncle says we live three times as long since man invented movies.”
“How can that be?”
“It means movies give us twice what we get from daily life.”
—Dialogue from Edward Yang’s Yi Yi

The Film Society of Lincoln Center will be presenting this eight film retrospective of films by the highly regarded Taiwanese director Edward Yang.

Born in Shanghai in 1947, Edward Yang was still a toddler when his family, like some two million other Chinese citizens, emigrated from mainland China to Taiwan after the end of the Chinese Civil War. Not surprisingly, one of the richest themes in his films (as in those of his friend and contemporary Hou Hsiao-Hsien) would become the search for identity—personal, social and political—in the small island nation.

But Yang’s work was equally concerned with such universal subjects as the longing for missed opportunities and the age-old conflicts between parents and children, his deeply rational mind (he came to filmmaking after studying computer science and applied physics) always striving to impose order on the irrational world of human experience.

His untimely death in 2007 robbed world cinema of one of its greatest talents at the peak of his career. All the more tragically, only one of Yang’s features, the acclaimed Yi Yi, had managed to receive commercial distribution in the United States, where the director lived for much of his adult life.  This retrospective will serve as a noteworthy effort to correct this neglect.

Info, schedule, and tickets here.

A Brighter Summer Say

In a related event, the U.S. theatrical premiere of Yang's A Brighter Summer Day, will take place November 25 - December 1 in the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center.  Info/Tickets

ACF 1187: The Woman with Red Hair

Junko Miyashita (left) and Renji Ishibashi

 The Woman with Red Hair / Akai kami no onna

Directed by Tatssumi Kumashiro

Japan, 1979, 73 minutes

Velvet Bullets and Steel Kisses: Celebrating the Nikkatsu Centennial, a NY Film Festival Masterworks series of 37 films from Japan's oldest studio continues through this Sunday, October 16th. The Woman with Red Hair will play tomorrow, Friday, October 14th  at 9:00 pm (tickets here) and on Sunday evening at 6:20 pm (tickets here).

Synopsis: Seventies icon Junko Miyashita plays a redheaded woman who is picked up by the side of the road by Kozo (Renji Ishibashi), a driver for a construction company, in this dark, celebrated erotic drama. Dubbed “one of the very best Nikkatsu pink films,” The Woman with Red Hair becomes a marathon session of obsessive desire and unsatisfied dreams, acted out in a down-and-out working-class milieu. One of the best works by a major director in the genre.

ACF Review: The quote cited above is from Japanese Cinema Encyclopedia: The Sex Films by Thomas Weisser, my former editor/publisher at Asian Cult Cinema magazine, and Yuko Mihara Weisser, his wife. Jasper Sharp also has a positive take on it in his book Behind the Pink Curtain: The Complete History of Japanese Sex Cinema. (Both are very fine books, by the way.)

I wasn't that impressed after watching the film at a press screening before the NY Film Festival began. While the Weissers are probably correct in their assessment, being the best of Nikkatsu's Roman Porn (for "Romantic Pornography") isn't really the highest praise for a film in general.

I'll grant you that the film has a good bit more of a story to it than most films of its ilk (at least those at that time). There are a few nice comic touches, such as when Kozo wakes up in his bed, senses something amiss, and lifts the covers to reveal "The Woman" asleep between his legs with her head nestled in his crotch! And occasionally there's a striking cinematic composition, such as an overhead shot of the couple walking along a pier.

For me there was just too much sex shenanigans. Don't get me wrong: I'm no prude, far from it. It wasn't for nothing that my column in Asian Cult Cinema was named (by T. Weisser, himself) Trash Taken Seriously: Scholarly Reviews of Exploitation, Guilty Pleasures & Junk. But there wasn't enough going on aside from the sex to interest me, and let's face it, simulated sex can get old after awhile, at least when you're watching it in public.

When the film had ended, and paraphrasing the title of Nagisa Oshima's most notorious film, I retitled it "In the Realm of the Boring." (I'll admit that this initial reaction was a good bit on the harsh side.) Discussing this in the lobby with Charles Meyer, contributing editor at Cinespect.com, he retorted with "In the Realm of the Senseless," though to be honest he did have a higher regard for The Woman with Red Hair than I did.

Bottom line? The Woman with Red Hair is not a great film, but it's definitely one of the best in its genre, certainly for its time. And it does hold an important place in the history of pinku eiga (pink films). ACF Rating: 3 out of 4 stars, a decent enough film that's surely worth seeing.

ACF 1175: JIRAIYA THE NINJA

Jiraiya The Ninja

Jiraiya The Ninja (1921) is the earliest film shown at Velvet Bullets and Steel Kisses: Celebrating the Nikkatsu Centennial, the incredible 37 film series playing at NY's Lincoln Center through Sunday, October 16th. Jiraiya was directed by Shozo Makino, known as the "father of Japanese cinema," and only a fragment just over twenty minutes is available. That segment was shown this past Sunday along with Made To Order Cloth, Daisuke Ito's 1930 depiction of Edo-era thief and folk hero Jirokichi Nakamura.

I watched Jiraiya on a DVD screener. There were only a few intertitle cards, and these were not subtitled. So it was rather difficult to know just exactly what was going on. Still, I could tell that at one point Jiraiya rescued someone, and at another he exposed a lord's vassal. And of course, action scenes don't need much, if any, explanation. The fighting style was crude by today's standards, as one would expect, but they had their own charm.

The same is true of thee special effects utilized, such as double-exposures. Another technique involved freezing the action and having a character step out of frame before re-cranking the camera. This results in him apparently "disappearing" and then "reappearing" when the action freezes and he steps back in frame.

Jiraiya The Ninja

This technique is also used for transformations, as when Jiraiya turns into a frog (see image above) and back into a human. Similarly, one of his opponents turns into a snake.

It's not really appropriate for me to assign a star rating to Jiraiya The Ninja, since only a part of it is available. But I will say it was enjoyable to watch, aside from the scratches and other artifacts of age. (It would be wonderful if someone would give it and other important old films the "Criterion treatment" or some similar loving restoration.) Jiraiya is clearly an important film in terms of Japanese cinema, and I found it to be charming and delightful in its own way.

The Burmese Harp

Velvet Bullets and Steel Kisses: Celebrating the Nikkatsu Centennial continues today, Thursday, October 6th with four films, of which I've seen two. The Burmese Harp (1956) is a remarkable tale from Kon Ichikawa of a lowly Japanese soldier who stays in Burma after his army surrenders at the end of World War II. There he devotes his life to finding the remains of the war dead and giving them proper burial. It will be shown at 6:20 PM today, and again tomorrow, Friday, at 8:15 PM. Details here.

Crazed Fruit

At 8:40 PM tonight, and at 4:40 Friday afternoon, Ko Nakahira's youth flick Crazed Fruit will be shown. Hormones rage in this taiyozoku (Sun Tribe) tale of post WWII well-off Japanese youths. Like The Burmese Harp, it also hails from 1956. Like the two previous Sun Tribe films Nikkatsu released that year, it was based on a story by 1956 Akutagawa literary prize winner, and later politician, Shintaro Ishihara. At its most basic, Crazed Fruit is the tail of rivalry between two brothers for a lovely young thing, Eri (Mie Kitahara). For info about the Crazed Fruit screenings, click here.

For descriptions of all the film in the Velvet Bullets and Steel Kisses film series, schedule information and to buy tickets, click here.

ACF 1169: Thanks, Joe Shishido!

I interviewed Japanese actor Joe Shishido at Lincoln Center's Elinor Bunin Munroe Theater yesterday afternoon. He's in town this weekend for personal appearances at some screenings of Nikkatsu films in which he starred, such as Yasuharu Hasebe's Retaliation (1968), which was shown Saturday evening. It'll be shown again on October 13th, but Shishido won't be at that screening.

I'm going to make every effort to transcribe, edit and post the interview as soon as possible. In the meanwhile, I have to share the wonderful autograph he gave me on the cover of the booklet to my DVD of Youth of the Beast:

I kept referring to him as "Shishido-sama," using the highest honorific out of respect, and he kept telling me to call him "Joe." He's 77 years old (he'll be 78 this coming December 6th), still acting, and a wonderful person to sit and talk with.

Joe Shishido in Gate of Flesh

"Joe" (as he asked me to call him) will also be appearing in person at the screening of Seijun Suzuki's Gate of Flesh at 6:30 PM today. For info and to order tickets to that screening click here.

These screenings are part of Velvet Bullets and Steel Kisses: Celebrating the Nikkatsu Centennial, a Masterworks side-bar to the Film Society of Lincoln Center's annual New York Film Festival.

Film descriptions, schedule information, and ordering tickets for the Velvet Bullets film series here.

Information about the entire 49th NY Film Festival here.

ACF 1125: 49th New York Film Festival Masterworks Series Will Honor Nikkatsu Corporation

Image from Seijun Suzuki's Tokyo Drifter

The Film Society of Lincoln Center has announced an incredible Masterworks Series at this year's New York Film festival will focus on the Nikkatsu Corporation in anticipation of the 100th anniversary of its founding. The incredible line-up of films that will be screened is liisted below in alphabetical order. I haven't seen info about the specific schedule of days and times, although the festival will run from September 30th to October 16th, 2011. Film Society members and patrons will have the opportunity to buy advance and discount tickets to the festival. To enjoy these special benefits, join the Film Society by clicking here. Tickets go on sale to the general public on September 12th



I'll pass on schedule information as soon as I can. In the meanwhile, read the following and drool!!!!



Founded upon the consolidation of several production companies and theater chains, Nikkatsu Corporation has enjoyed a rich history of film production and distribution since 1912. Since that time, notable directors such as Kenji Mizoguchi, Kon Ichikawa, Shozo Makino and his son Masahiro Makino, Ko Nakahira, Shohei Imamura and Seijun Suzuki have made films under the Nikkatsu banner. During World War 2, Nikkatsu was forcibly combined with several other Japanese studios to form a large, government-influenced studio, but in 1954 the company resumed production under its own control.



Searching for its own niche in the booming postwar Japanese film industry, Nikkatsu moved into the youth market with its stirring screen adaptation of Shintaro Ishihara’s SEASON OF THE SUN. An enormous success, Nikkatsu quickly followed up with a wave of similar works oriented for the youth market. As the vogue for these youth films began to wane in the early 60s, Nikkatsu launched a series of hard-boiled action films that remain perhaps the company’s best known period internationally. Led by such action stars as Shishedo Joe, Yujiro Ishihara and Hideaki Nitani, Nikkatsu action introduced a new kind of protagonist, often cynical and at odds with a society revealed to be totally corrupt. Influenced by American B movies, Nikkatsu action would itself be a key influence on the Hong Kong gunplay films years later.



With aging action stars and a public looking for something new, Nikkatsu in the 70s created “Roman Porno,” romantic pornography, a series of soft-core erotic films that featured real (if often bizarre) plots and actors. The constant shift in production enabled Nikkatsu to stay profitable while other Japanese studios were either closing or switching to television. Yet by the 90s, Nikkkatsu was itself forced to declare bankruptcy and re-organize. Despite changes in ownership since then, Nikkatsu has remained continuously in production, branching out into new genre such as horror, martial arts and even family drama. As it approaches its centenary, Nikkatsu’s motto “We Make Fun Films” remains as true today as it was in its golden era. A new generation of filmgoers are discovering its classic films and filmmakers, inspiring not only the re-release of films from their catalogue but the production of remakes as well. Organized by the Film Society of Lincoln Center with Nikkatsu Corporation, the Japan Foundation and the National Film Center of Japan, this Centenary Celebration of Nikkatsu will be screened later this year at the Festival of 3 Continents in Nantes, France, as well as at the Cinematheque Française.



Nikkatsu 100th Anniversary Retrospective Lineup:



AKANISHI KAKITA(1936) 77min

Director: Mansaku Itami



THE BURMESE HARP(Biruma no Tategoto) (1956) 115min

Director: Kon Ichikawa



CHARISMA(Karisuma) (1999) 103min

Director: Kiyoshi Kurosawa



COLD FISH(Tsumetai Nettaigyo) (2010) 144min

Director: Sion Sono



A COLT IS MY PASSPORT(Colt ha Oreno Passport) (1967) 85min

Director: Takashi Nomura



CRAZED FRUIT(Kurutta Kajitsu) (1956) 86min

Director: Ko Nakahira



DANCER IN IZU(Izo no Odoriko) (1963) 87min

Director: Katsumi Nisikawa



A DIARY OF CHUJI’S TRAVELS(Chiji Tabi Nikki: Part 1 and Part 2) (1927) 107min

Director: Daisuke Ito



EARTH(1939) 92min

Director: Tomu Uchida



GATE OF FLESH(Nikutai no Mon) (1964) 90min

Director: Seijun Suzuki



THE HELL-FATED COURTESAN(Maruhi: Joro Seme Jigoku) (1973) 77min

Director: Noboru Tanaka



HOMETOWN(1930) 86min

Director: Kenji Mizoguchi



I LOOK UP WHEN I WALK(aka KEEP YOUR CHIN UP) (Uewo Muite Arukou) (1962) 91min

Director: Toshio Masuda



INTENTIONS OF MURDER(Akai Satsui) (1964) 150min

Director: Shohei Imamura



INTIMIDATION(Aru Kyohaku) (1960) 65min

Director: Koreyosji Kurahara



LOVE HOTEL(1985) 88min

Director: Shinji Somae



MADE TO ORDER CLOTH(aka JIROKICHI THE RAT) (Oatsurae Jirokichi Koshi) (1931) 70min

Director: Daisuke Ito

**Screening with:

JIRAIYA THE NINJA(Goketsu Jiraiya) (1921) 30min

Director: Shozo Makino



MUD AND SOLDIERS(Tsuchi to Heitai) (1936) 120min

Director: Tomotaka Tasaka



THE OLDEST PROFESSION(Maruhi: Shikiyo Mesu Ichiba) (1974) 83min

Director: Noboru Tanaka



PIGS AND BATTLESHIPS(Buta to Gunkan) (1961) 108min

Director: Shohei Imamura



A POT WORTH A MILLION RYO(Tange Sazen Hyakuman Ryou no Tsubo) (1935) 92min

Director: Sadao Yamanaka



RETALIATION(Shima ha Moratta) (1967) 94min

Director: Yasuharu Hasebe



RUSTY KNIFE(Sabita Knife) (1958) 90min

Director: Toshio Masuda



SEASON OF THE SUN(Taiyo no Kisetsu) (1956) 89min

Director: Takumi Furukawa



SINGING LOVE BIRDS(Oshidori Uta Gassen) (1936) 69min

Director: Masahiro Makino



STRAY CAT ROCK: SEX HUNTER(Noraneko Rock: Sex Hunter) (1970) 86min

Director: Yasuharu Hasebe



SUN IN THE LAST DAYS OF THE SHOGUNATE(aka Shinagawa Path) (Bakumatsu Taiyoden) (1957) 110min

Director: Yuzo Kawashima



SUZUKI PARADISE: RED LIGHT(Suzuki Paradise: Aka Shingo) (1956) 81min

Director: Yuzo Kawashima



TAKE AIM AT THE POLICE VAN(Jusango Taihisen Yori: Sono Gososha wo Nerae) (1960) 79min

Director: Seijun Suzuki



THE TATTOOED FLOWER VASE(Kashinno Irezumi: Ureta Tsubo) (1979) 74min

Director: Masaru Konuma



TEN NIGHTS OF DREAMS(Yume Juya) (2007) 110min

Director: Various



TILL WE MEET AGAIN(Ashita Kuru Hito) (1955) 115min

Director: Yuzo Kawashima



TOKYO DRIFTER(Tokyo Nagaremono) (1966) 83min

Director: Seijun Suzuki



THE WARPED ONES(1960) 108min

Director: Koreyoshi Kurahara



THE WOMAN WITH RED HAIR(Akai Kami no Onna) (1979) 73min

Director: Tatsumi Kumashiro



A WORLD OF GEISHA(Yojyohan Fusuma no Urabari) (1973) 77min

Director: Tatsumi Kumashiro

ACF 1112: Final update of links of cooperative coverage of New York Asian Film Festival and Japan Cuts

The Last Ronin © 2010 "The Last Ronin" Film Partners

Well, it’s Wednesday again and time for my final set of links of the cooperative coverage by four websites of the 10th Annual New York Asian Film Festival, co-presented by Subway Cinema and the Film Society of Lincoln Center, and of Japan Cuts: The New York Festival Of Contemporary Japanese Cinema, presented by Japan Society NYC. NYAFF and Japan Society joined forces, as they have in the past, to c0-present several films.

The four cooperating websites (in no particular order) are:
- VCinema
- AsianCineFest
- The Bourne Cinema Conspiracy
- cineAWESOME!

There are three additional sites for which I’m also providing links. Two of them have appeared in my previous posts of links, one is new. The three additional sites are:

-- New Korea Cinema website, which has had a relationship with VCinema for some time.

-- Meniscus, which although not part of our cooperative effort, is where Chris Bourne has also posted some reviews

-- Dreamlogic.net - Chris Nelson of dreamlogic.net emailed me some links to reviews at his site after catching my coverage through Jon Jung of VCinema. It’s my pleasure to include them here.

Within each site listed below, the reviews are listed most recent first, earliest last. There's some cross-posting, particularly by Chris Bourne and myself, usually first at VCinema, then on our own blogs. In certain of these cross-posts, you'll find that the second postings differ somewhat from the originals.

VCinema

Haru’s Journey – Christopher Bourne

Wandering Home – Stan Glick

Torso – John Berra

Three Points

Bonus Episode 8: An Interview With Tsui Hark – an audio interview by Stan Glick

Rinco’s Restaurant – Stan Glick

Battlefield Heroes – Pierce Conran

The Last Days of The World – Rex Baylon

Love and Loathing and Lulu and Ayano – Christopher Bourne

The Recipe - Jon Jung

Machete Maidens Unleashed!

The Man From Nowhere – Pierce Conran

Haunters – Pierce Conran

Ringing in Their Ears – Christopher Bourne

“Won’t Somebody Think of the Children!!” (family friendly films at NYAFF & Japan Cuts) – Rex Baylon

Reign of Assassins – John Berra
The Seaside Motel – John Berra
A Night In Nude – Stan Glick

The Unjust – John Berra
The City of Violence – Stan Glick
Horny House of Horror – Christopher Bourne
Milocrorze: A Love Story – Stan Glick
BKO: Bangkok Knockout – Christopher Bourne

AsianCineFest – Dr. Stan Glick

An Interview With Tsui Hark – post linking to the audio interview at VCinema

The Food of Rinco’s Restaurant

Rinco’s Restaurant

Japan Cuts film festival arrives!

NYAFF Wu Xia Trailer & Remaining Screening Schedule

The “7 Courtesans of Tenzakuro” in Milocrorze: A Love Story
Milocrorze: A Love Story

The Bourne Cinema Conspiracy – Christopher Bourne

Haru’s Journey

City of Violence

Love and Loathing and Luly and Ayano

Ringing in Their Ears
The Recipe

Horny House of Horror

BKO: Bangkok Knockout

cineAWESOME!

Wandering Home – Lisa Kirchner
The Blade – James McCormick

The Unjust – Rufus De Rham

Top 7 Tuesday: NYAFF/Japan Cuts Edition – July 5^th Podcast of cineAWESOME’s personal top 7 choices from the two festivals

Karate-Robo Zaborgar – James McCormick

Episode 006: NYAFF – July 4^th Podcast includes consideration of what to watch at the New York Asian Film Festival

Ninja Kids!!! – Rufus De Rham

Milocrorze: A Love Story – James McCormick

Bonus Episode 001: Interview with Grady Hendrix – June 29 Podcast in which Rufus interviews Grady, one of the founders of Subway Cinema, the group that sponsors the New York Asian Film Festival, and the main frontman for NYAFF.

Toilet – Deangelo Willimas, Jr.
Troubleshooter – Deangelo Willimas, Jr.
A Night in Nude: Salvation – Deangelo Willimas, Jr.
Buddha Mountain – James McCormick

New Korean Cinema

The Recipe – Christopher Bourne

Meniscus - Christopher Bourne is also posting reviews here

The Blade

Buddha Mountain

Milocrorze: A Love Story

Dreamlogic.net

Into the White Night

Vengeance Can Wait

The Knot

The Seaside Motel

Three Points

Battle Royale (archived DVD review)

Gantz (archived movie review)

ACF 1096: Updated links of cooperative coverage of New York Asian Film Festival and Japan Cuts

Kou Shibasaki as Rinco in Rinco's Restaurant,
which screens tonight at 6:30 PM at Japan Society

The cooperative coverage by four websites of the 10th Annual New York Asian Film Festival, co-presented by Subway Cinema and the Film Society of Lincoln Center, and of Japan Cuts: The New York Festival Of Contemporary Japanese Cinema, presented by Japan Society, has produced a slew of reviews.

The four cooperating websites (in no particular order) are:

- VCinema
- AsianCineFest
- The Bourne Cinema Conspiracy
- cineAWESOME!

Thanks to a reminder from Rufus at cineAWESOME!, I've listed relevant podcasts as well as written reviews.

I’ve also included the following sites:

- New Korea Cinema website, which has had a relationship with VCinema for some time.

- Meniscus, which although not part of our cooperative effort, is where Chris Bourne has also posted some reviews

Within each site listed below, the reviews are listed most recent first, earliest last. There's some cross-posting, particularly by Chris Bourne and myself. In certain of these cross-posts, you'll find that the second postings differ somewhat from the originals.

I intend to keep updating this list of links every Wednesday through the week after the festivals end. So be sure to check back.

VCinema

Rinco’s Restaurant – Stan Glick

Battlefield Heroes – Pierce Conran

The Last Days of The World – Rex Baylon

Love and Loathing and Lulu and Ayano – Christopher Bourne

The Recipe - Jon Jung

Machete Maidens Unleashed!

The Man From Nowhere – Pierce Conran

Haunters – Pierce Conran

Ringing in Their Ears – Christopher Bourne

“Won’t Somebody Think of the Children!!n” (family friendly films at NYAFF & Japan Cuts) – Rex Baylon

Reign of Assassins – John Berra

The Seaside Motel – John Berra

A Night In Nude – Stan Glick

The Unjust – John Berra

The City of Violence – Stan Glick

Horny House of Horror – Christopher Bourne

Milocrorze: A Love Story – Stan Glick

BKO: Bangkok Knockout – Christopher Bourne

AsianCineFest – Dr. Stan Glick

The Food of Rinco’s Restaurant

Rinco’s Restaurant

Japan Cuts film festival arrives!

NYAFF Wu Xia Trailer & Remaining Screening Schedule

The “7 Courtesans of Tenzakuro” in Milocrorze: A Love Story
Milocrorze: A Love Story

The Bourne Cinema Conspiracy – Christopher Bourne

City of Violence

Love and Loathing and Luly and Ayano

Ringing in Their Ears

The Recipe

Horny House of Horror

BKO: Bangkok Knockout

cineAWESOME!

The Blade – James McCormick

The Unjust – Rufus De Rham

Top 7 Tuesday: NYAFF/Japan Cuts Edition – July 5^th Podcast of cineAWESOME’s personal top 7 choices from the two festivals

Karate-Robo Zaborgar – James McCormick

Episode 006: NYAFF – July 4^th Podcast includes consideration of what to watch at the New York Asian Film Festival

Ninja Kids!!! – Rufus De Rham

Milocrorze: A Love Story – James McCormick

Bonus Episode 001: Interview with Grady Hendrix – June 29 Podcast in which Rufus interviews Grady, one of the founders of Subway Cinema, the group that sponsors the New York Asian Film Festival, and the main frontman for NYAFF

Toilet – Deangelo Willimas, Jr.

Troubleshooter – Deangelo Willimas, Jr.

A Night in Nude: Salvation – Deangelo Willimas, Jr.

Buddha Mountain – James McCormick

New Korean Cinema

The Recipe - Christopher Bourne

Meniscus - Christopher Bourne is also posting reviews here

The Blade

Buddha Mountain

Milocrorze: A Love Story

ACF 1090: Japan Cuts film festival arrives!

Osamu Tezuka’s Buddha: The Great Departure
© 2011 “Osamu Tezuka’s Buddha” production committee 13

Japan Cuts: The New York Festival of Contemporary Japanese Cinema officially begins this evening at Japan Society and will run through July 22nd. Tonight's films are Osamu Tezuka’s Buddha: The Great Departure at 6:45 PM (it will also be shown on Sunday, July 10th at 12:30 PM) and Ringing in Their Ears at 9:00 PM (it will also be screened at NYAFF at the Walter Reade on Monday, July 11th at 1:30 in the afternoon). Both films are among the 10 co-presentations with the New York Asian Film Festival, which continues to screening films at Lincoln Center's Walter Reade Theater.

This is the fifth year of the Japan Cuts film festival and it's bigger and better than ever, with 32 new titles from many genres. In addition to all these recent films, Kinji Fukusaku's final film, the terrific and controversial Battle Royale (2000), will be given a celebratory screening tomorrow, Friday July 8th at 9:15 PM.



The festival will also be graced by the presence of several directors, actors, and actresses at certain screenings, and by some special post-screening parties.

Japan Society is located at 333 East 47th Street, between 1st and 2ndd Avenues, NYC.

Complete schedule information, descriptions of individual films, and to order tickets for Japan Cuts.

Complete schedule info, descriptions of individual films, and to order tickets for the New York Asian Film Festival.