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Following the recipe he implemented for “A Bride for Rip Van Winkle” and “Last Letter”, of shooting movies based on his own novel, Shunji Iwai has come up with “Kyrie”, a 3-hour movie that details the story of its three main characters over the span of 13 years. At the same time, it functions as a promotional piece for the idols in the cast, mainly Aina The End whose songs are heard throughout.

Kyrie is screening at Nippon Connection

The movie starts in the present, but eventually unfolds over several different time axes. In the present, Kyrie, a mysterious girl who only whispers except when she is singing, is trying to become a professional musician, but has no luck, even having to live on the streets. Eventually, another girl her age approaches her, Ikko, who immediately convinces her to become her manager, with the two soon sharing an apartment.

It turns...

Sawako and Toshio are a manga artist power couple. When Sawako’s mother is in need of help, they have to relocate and things start to change. In the new environment, the women’s imagination is sparked by a driving instructor, who does not only liberates her from driving phobia, but also from her frail relationship.

“Sensei, Would You Sit Beside Me?” is screening at New York Asian Film Festival

Takahiro Horie’s (“Hurt” 2016) second feature film is part of the Tsutaya Creators’ Program and features Haru Kuroki (“A Bride For Rip van Winkle” 2016) and Tasuku Emoto (“And Your Bird Can Sing” 2018) as the lead actors. Both are prominent faces of the current Japanese cinema and always a secure choice when it comes to realistic drama. The screen presence of the couple is one of the more positive aspects of the film, though.

“Sensei, Would You Sit Beside Me?” begins...

Japanese director Shunji Iwai most recent production “Last Letter” is set for release on January 17, 2020. The films stars Takao Matsuo, as a house wife who receives confession from her first love. Matuso, previously worked with director Shunji Iwai in the 1998 movie “April Story”.

In anticipation of the films release, Toho has made a trailer available, which can be viewed below. Recently, we got a chance to speak with director Shunji Iwai, you can read our interview here.

Synopsis

Yuri Kishibeno (Takako Matsu) is a housewife. She lives with her husband (Hideaki Anno) and their two children. Yuri Kishibeno then attends her sister Misaki Tono’s funeral. There, she meets her niece Ayumi (Suzu Hirose) for the first time in many years. Ayumi is still unable to accept her mother’s death and, because of this, she can’t open a letter left behind by her mother. Yuri Kishibeno attends her...

One of the most popular and influential Japanese directors of his generation, the multi-talented Shunji Iwai is commonly recognized for his distinctive and innovative visual style. Although describing himself as an “eizo sakka” (visual artist), characters and plot themes are often excellently developed in his films, all of which he has personally scripted. Iwai has also edited several of his films, and has even scored the music for more recent efforts. Often using women protagonists, Iwai has garnered fine performances from Japanese Pop singers in key roles, most notably Miho Nakayama in Love Letter (1995) and Chara in Picnic (1996), Swallowtail Butterfly (1996) and Cocco, in A Bride For Rip Van Winkle. A trend-setter, he has created a style that resonates with Japanese pop culture, striking a chord with contemporary Japanese youth, especially young women.

We speak with him about his career, his latest film, “A Bride for Rip Van Winkle”, Japanese society and other topics.

If you don't know the name Takashi Miike, then perhaps you're not a true film fan. The auteur made a name for himself in the 2000s pumping out one crazy movie after the next, continually raising the insanity level in each one. Now, he is back with the high-energy blast of shock and awe, tenderly called First Love. But make no mistake, this is not a romantic comedy.

Well Go USA Entertainment is proud to unveil the teaser trailer for Takashi Miike's crowd pleasing action crime drama First Love. The first look footage actually made its debut this past weekend at Comic-Con during the big 'Superhero Kung Fu Extravaganza'. The Japanese title for the movie is Hatsukoi, and it made its world premiere during the Director's Fortnight during Cannes 2019.&#160

Critics are praising First Love with an intensity usually reserved for the most insane pieces of cinematic art. Jessica Kiang of Variety called it,...

I have to admit here, I consider Shunji Iwai one of the most originals voices of Japanese cinema, an artist whose every work deserves more than a look, to say the least. “A Bride for Rip Van Winkle” is definitely among his best works, and this says a lot for the director of films like “Picnic”, “All About Lily Chou Chou” and “Hana and Alice”.

The three-hour script is split in three parts and revolves around Nanami, a timid, extremely low profile woman, who, at the beginning of the movie, works as a part-time teacher, despite having issues with her students who mock her for her very low voice, and in a convenience store, to make ends meet. She spends most of her free time on “Planet” a social network, and seems to have no actual friends or a boyfriend. However, eventually she takes part in a blind date with Tetsuya,...

Shimizu is known as the creator of ‘The Grudge’ franchise.

Japan’s Toei Company is launching sales at Afm on The Grudge director Takashi Shimizu’s upcoming horror film Howling Village.

Best known as the creator of the Japanese Ju-on series and The Grudge franchise, Shimizu’s latest chiller is claimed to be inspired by real-life events - “the truth behind the darkest secret in the history of Japan”, according to Toei.

It centers on a village at the end of a forgotten tunnel from which no one has ever returned alive. A dam was built over it in an effort to erase the past,...

Lovers of Japanese cinema should find themselves in San Francisco during the weekends of April 14th/15th and 21st/22nd for the Cherry Blossom Film Festival. And if you especially love the work of director Iwai Shunji we have a giveaway for you. Screen Anarchy is pleased to offer you and a guest a double pass to one of Iwai's films playing during the opening night of the festival.  Iwai's latest film A Bride for Rip Van Winkle will be playing with two other titles from his filmography, All About Lily Chou-Chou and Hanna & Alice on April 14th at the New People Cinema in San Francisco. If you win our random draw you and a guest can choose which one of the three films you would...

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