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Following the success of “Midnight Swan”, which won the Japan Academy Prize for Best Picture, Uchida decided to return to one of his favorite themes, the meta “film about films” concept, continuing in the same level of quality he exhibited in titles like “Lowlife Love” and “The Naked Director”.

Shrieking in the Rain is screening at Camera Japan

The story takes place in an anonymous studio during the summer of 1988, where video production for home rentals has reached its highest peak. First-time director Hanako Hayashi is in charge, but the truth is, she actually isn’t. At all. Instead, she experiences frequent meltdowns, as in the initial scene where she has locked herself in the prop car, not talking to anybody, exhibits rather eloquently, her directions are vague, contradicting, and rather annoying for the cast and crew who get increasingly fed up with her. The fact that most of them...

An omnibus with the theme of “living as a woman.” It reflects the worries of women that change with each generation against the backdrop of each season of spring, summer, autumn and winter. Ryo Kawasaki directed, wrote and edited. Ryoka Neya will star in the movie, along Chika Uchida in “Lady to Lady”, Haruka Imou in “Soire”, and Miho Kaneno in “Cesium and the Girl” will co-star.

A ballroom dance movie directed by Hirokazu Fujisawa, such as “Grab the Sand and Get Up”. An ordinary housewife and an unsold actress form a pair and challenge competitive dance. Chihiro Otsuka from the “Front and Back” series and Chika Uchida from “Going to Meet Pinkerton” stars as a woman who regained her youth through dance. Shinya Niiro, Houka Kinoshita, Hazuki Shimizu, Tomoko Ikuta and others will co-star.

Ever since the days of the great Yasujiro Ozu, the family drama has been a fixed entity within the cinematic landscape of Japan. While dealing with human issues on the one hand, the family was mostly a reflection of the world outside, its morals, values, politics and certain shifts in society, a tradition which continued with the highly praised entries of Hirokazu Koreeda in the genre, such as “Shoplifters”. Especially the latter may just be responsible for a new wave of family drama flooding international film festivals, some of which solid and entertaining, whereas the others are rather forgettable. In his new feature “Take Over Zone”, director Shinpei Yamasaki presents his entry into the genre, telling of a story of family quarrels, sibling rivalry and bullying.

“Take Over Zone” is screening at Camera Japan

After the divorce of her parents three years ago Sari (Yoshina Riru) has been living with her father,...