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Although its characters get drunk all the time, “And Your Bird Can Sing” is as sober as it gets. Captured in the triviality of everyday life in northern Japan, Sho Miyake presents a lackluster love drama based on a novel by Yasushi Sato.

“And Your Bird Can Sing” is streaming on Sakka Films

A nameless book dealer played by Tasuku Emoto (“Air Doll” 2009) falls in love with his coworker, Sachiko. His roommate, Shizuo, also has interest in her. Normally, a perfect base for conflict. But somehow Miyake misses to build up the tension. I don’t blame the actors. Shota Sometani (“Parasyte” 2014) as Shizuo and Shizuka Ishibashi (“Nights Tightrope” 2016) as Sachiko are doing their best. Natural acting, becoming one with the camera and creating harmony on screen. Unfortunately, this does not help the pace of the film, who fails to arouse the interest of the viewer.

“And Your Bird Can Sing” is too long.

Based on a ’70s manga by Japanese master Osamu Tezuka, a bored writer’s affair with his beguiling young muse gets the live-action treatment in “Tezuka’s Barbara.” Primarily concerned with the story’s excursions into erotic surrealism and the occult while playing down its social and political themes, this handsomely packaged item isn’t deep or meaningful but does present a visually arresting account of middle-aged male ennui colliding with uninhibited and irresistible female energy. Sure to be welcomed by Tezuka’s large fan base in Japan, “Barbara” has enjoyed a lengthy festival run since bowing in competition at the Tokyo Film Festival.

One of several adults-only tales by the legendary creator of children’s classics “Astro Boy” and “Kimba the White Lion,” “Barbara” first appeared in Big Comic magazine in 1973 and was long considered unfilmable. It has finally been adapted by Tezuka’s eldest son, Macoto Tezka, a highly...

Yuya Ishii’s “The Tokyo Night Sky is Always the Densest Shade of Blue” (2017) is a curious film with a screenplay by Ishii based on a book of poetry by Taihi Saihate. With the majority of the action taking place in Tokyo, the tale of two lonely individuals trying to find one another may share a lot of themes with other films set in the capital, but has a style that is unique.

The Tokyo Night Sky is Always the Densest Shade of Blue screened at Japan Cuts

Mika (Shizuka Ishibashi) is a young woman working two jobs, as a nurse during the day and at a “girls bar” at night. Her night job involves her entertaining the male clients, but it is clear that neither of these professions is particularly fulfilling. She is a lonely individual, with only her pet turtle for company at home. Shinji (Sosuke Ikematsu) is...

Although its characters get drunk all the time, “And Your Bird Can Sing” is as sober as it gets. Captured in the triviality of everyday life in northern Japan, Sho Miyake presents a lackluster love drama based on a novel by Yasushi Sato.

“And Your Bird Can Sing” is screening at Five Flavours Asian Film Festival

A nameless book dealer played by Tasuku Emoto (“Air Doll” 2009) falls in love with his coworker, Sachiko. His roommate, Shizuo, also has interest in her. Normally, a perfect base for conflict. But somehow Miyake misses to build up the tension. I don’t blame the actors. Shota Sometani (“Parasyte” 2014) as Shizuo and Shizuka Ishibashi (“Nights Tightrope” 2016) as Sachiko are doing their best. Natural acting, becoming one with the camera and creating harmony on screen. Unfortunately, this does not help the pace of the film, who fails to arouse the interest of the viewer.

“And...

Two Japanese films, “Tezuka’s Barbara” and “A Beloved Wife” have been selected for the main competition section of next month’s Tokyo International Film Festival.

The festival will reveal the remainder of the competition and the bulk of its other selections later this month. To date the Japanese festival has only revealed its opening film a gala screening of Japanese film “Talking The Pictures,” directed by Masayuki Suo, and Martin Scorsese’s “The Irishman” as its closing event.

“Barbara” is an adult-oriented fantasy tale, directed by Makoto Tezka who adapts his father Osamu Tezka’s famous novel, itself a reimagining of “The Tales of Hoffmann.” The story deals with the erotic and bizarre experiences of a novelist whose life is turned upside down by a mysterious girl named Barbara, and touches on taboos including forbidden love, eroticism, scandal and the occult.

Tokyo festival selector Yoshi Yatabe called it: “extremely luxurious and fortunate filmmaking,...

“I never heard you open up like that before.”

“I hardly ever do.”

As the velocity of our global economy increases, we will see more of its accompanying symptoms. The rise in demands in many fields of work and service has led to a vast variety of consequences from a re-definition of our global work culture, but also in the way we deal with the inevitable sicknesses such as burn-out and depression. Even though many cultures may idealize the lonely, diligent worker, this image has become problematic regarding issues of physical and mental health. Considering today even primary school children have to take medication in order to be able to handle the pressures of school and their homes, defines quite clearly of the persistent damage we inflict on ourselves and others maintaining this image of the worker who never complains and delivers his/her services with a smile.

In general,...

Although its characters get drunk all the time, “And Your Bird Can Sing” is as sober as it gets. Captured in the triviality of everyday life in northern Japan, Sho Miyake presents a lackluster love drama based on a novel by Yasushi Sato.

“And Your Birds Can Sing” is screening at Berlin Film Festival

A nameless book dealer played by Tasuku Emoto (“Air Doll” 2009) falls in love with his coworker, Sachiko. His roommate, Shizuo, also has interest in her. Normally, a perfect base for conflict. But somehow Miyake misses to build up the tension. I don’t blame the actors. Shota Sometani (“Parasyte” 2014) as Shizuo and Shizuka Ishibashi (“Nights Tightrope” 2016) as Sachiko are doing their best. Natural acting, becoming one with the camera and creating harmony on screen. Unfortunately, this does not help the pace of the film, who fails to arouse the interest of the viewer.

“And Your Bird Can Sing” is too long.

Japan’s The Fool (“River’s Edge”) the U.K.’s Third Window Films (“Lowlife Love”) and Germany’s Rapid Eye Movies (“Ruined Heart”) have joined forces to back “Barbara,” a live action adaptation of the 1970s erotic manga by Osamu Tezuka.

“Barbara” Osamu Tezuka’s reimagining of ‘The Tales of Hoffmann’ as an adult-orientated fantasy tale. Its story deals with the erotic and bizarre experiences of a famous novelist whose life is tossed upside down by a mysterious girl. It touches on taboos including forbidden love, mystery, art, Eros, scandal and occultism.

“Barbara” was originally serialized in Big Comic from July 1973 to May 1974. It was recently published in English, French, Spanish, Italian and German. That inspired the crowdfunded English re-release of the manga.

The new film is directed by Macoto Tezka, the son of Tezuka, who would have been 90 this year. It stars Fumi Nikaido (“Himizu”) and Goro Inagaki...

Sho Miyake – directed his first feature, ‘Good for nothing’ in 2010. His ‘Playback’ debuted in competition at the 2012 Locarno International Film Festival and won him several directing awards in Japan. The ‘Cockpit’ premiered at the Cinéma du Réel documentary festival. He also directed TV dramas and video artwork. His new film ‘Wild Tour’ will be released in 2019.

Tasuku Emoto – actor who is from a family of prolific and well-respected character actors. His father is actor Akira Emoto, his mother is actress Kazue Tsunogae, his younger brother is actor Tokio Emoto, and his wife is actress Sakura Ando. He began acting as a young teenager and has since played many supporting roles and starred in a wide range of TV dramas and feature films. He was born in Tokyo on 1986 and attended Wako High School. His career began in 2001 while he was still a student. That year he auditioned for and won...

Fumi Nikaido and Goro Inagaki star in the film, directed by Osamu Tezuka’s son, Macoto Tezuka.

Germany’s Rapid Eye Movies and the UK’s Third Window Films are teaming with Japanese production outfit Thefool on a live-action version of Osamu Tezuka’s 1970s erotic manga Barbara.

Tezuka’s son, Macoto Tezuka, is directing the film, which is being produced to celebrate the 90th birth year of the late anime pioneer who also created the Astro Boy character.

Tezuka’s Barbara, as the film will be called, will star Fumi Nikaido, who won best actress at the Venice film festival in 2011 for Himizu,...