Lessons we learn from our first love in the films if Shunji Iwai.
Table of Contents Introduction Director Bio Festival Films Reviews Location Schedule Tickets Sources
chapter 01
1
Introduction
Introduction Welcome to the Sentimental Spring film festival celebrating the films of director Shunji Iwai. The festival will be held at Hakone Estate & Gardens, which is a traditional Japanese garden in Saratoga. This beautiful garden brings to life the atmosphere of Iwai’s films. During the festival, March 5-7, five films will be screened, and hope you will join the festival to remember your first love. At the close of the festival there will be a party where you can enjoy Japanese traditional food, tea and music.
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chapter 02
5
Director Bio
Director Bio
Shunji Iwai Film Festival
Director Bio Shunji Iwai is a Japanese film director, video artist, writer and documentary maker. Iwai was born in Sendai, Miyagi, Japan. He attended Yokohama National University, graduating in 1987. In 1988 he started out in the Japanese entertainment industry by directing TV dramas and music videos. Then, in 1993, his TV drama, Fireworks, brought him critical praise and the Directors Guild of Japan New Directors Award for his portrayal of a group of children in the town of Iioka. In 1995 he went on to start his career in feature films, starting with the box-office hit Love Letter, in which he cast pop singer Miho Nakayama in dual roles. Love Letter also launched the movie career of Miki Sakai who won a Japanese Academy Award as 'Newcomer of the Year' for her portrayal of Itsuki Fujii as a young girl. Iwai collaborated with cinematographer Noboru Shinoda to produce a film praised for its evocative winter cinematography. Love Letter made an impact in other East Asian countries too, notably South Korea where the film's success helped break down the post-World War II barriers to Japanese films being shown there. In 1996 came the commercial and critical success of Swallowtail Butterfly, a multifaceted story of the fictional Yen Town, a city of immigrants in search of hope and a better life with three separate and distinct main characters. Ageha (Ayumi Ito), an orphaned teenage girl, Glico (Chara), a prostitute turned pop star, and Feihong (Hiroshi Mikami), an immigrant who manages Glico's career and owns the Yen Town club. He also wrote the lyrics of a theme song for the film Swallowtail Butterfly (Ai no Uta) with Chara and Takeshi Kobayashi. In 1998, Fine Line Features released Love Letter in the United States theatrically under the new title When I Close My Eyes; it was the first Iwai-directed film to be released in the United States theatrically.
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Director Bio
Iwai enjoyed another kind of success with this film as well, having teamed up with Takeshi Kobayashi to create the music for the film and the Yen Town Band, headed by Pop star Chara. The band they created became a commercial hit in Japan. He would team up with Kobayashi again in 2001 for the harrowing high school drama All About Lily Chou-Chou. Kobayashi would create the music for the titular pop star, Lily Chou-Chou (voiced by Japanese singer Salyu), that is spread through the film (as well as Debussy), and later released as an album entitled Kokyu (Breathe). In 2002 he released a short, ARITA, in which he composed his own film score for the first time. In 2004 Iwai released Hana & Alice, his first comedy. He once again composed the film score himself. He has recently directed a commercial airing in Japan featuring Matsu Takako, whom he had not worked with since 1998. October 2006 saw the Iwai produced film Rainbow Song released in Japan. The film is directed by Naoto Kumazawa and was written by Ami Sakurai. It stars previous Iwai actors Hayato Ichihara, Yu Aoi and Shoko Aida. Also in 2006, Iwai spent time documenting and interviewing Kon Ichikawa while filming The Inugamis (Inugamike no ichizoku - 2006) to create a feature-length documentary about the director's life.
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Shunji Iwai Film Festival
A more recent project, a piece he wrote about the Japanese indie rock scene in the early 1990s called Bandage, was released on January 16, 2010. Apart from being in charge of the music production, "Bandage" represents Takeshi Kobayashi's first time as a movie director. The project was originally taken by Ryuhei Kitamura, but was dropped in 2006. The filming started in 2008 and Kobayashi chose a completely different cast for the movie, casting j-pop singer Jin Akanishi and Kie Kitano for the main roles. It also included other actors who have worked with Iwai before, such as Ayumi Ito and Hideyuki Kasahara. The release of the horror film Vampire marked his Englishlanguage film debut.
chapter 03
11
Festival Films
Festival Films
Shunji Iwai Film Festival
13
1993
database, offers a one month free trial that seems uninteresting until he mentions that an operator, always selected from a group of young women in their 20’s nick-named “Delta Ladies”, will also be supplied in the trial period. Poo arrives at the one-man Aida Detective Agency with the Delta Mazelan ‘F’ Series hardware. A dragon fish has been stolen by Tetsu Tobiyama and biologist Thomas Earwing seeks its return (the Super-Red variety is worth 10 million yen). The system fails to provide info about Tetsu, but Poo worms her way into a top secret file at Delta headquarters, finding that he supplies trained assassins for use worldwide. Searching tropical fish outlets where Tobiyama shops for supplies, Poo is led to Natsuro, living alone with fish tanks, one of which contains a dragon fish. This enigmatic young man is not only mysteriously attractive to Poo, he also seems to attract the attention of hit men aimed at him.
Fried Dragon Fish
A salesman from Delta Works, a London-based computerized
Cast Miyoko Yoshimoto / Poo Rinwon Miyoko Yoshimoto is an actress, known for Fried Dragon Fish (1993), Tobe! Dakota (2013) and Rusutaku no jiken (1996). She was previously married to Kazuhiko
Tadanobu Asano / Natsuro Asano Tadanobu is a Japanese film actor. His father, an actors’ agent, suggested he take on what became his first role, in the TV show “Kimpachi Sensei,” at the age of 16. His film debut was in the 1990 Swimming Upstream (Bataashi Kingyo (1990)), though his first major critical success was in Shunji Iwai’s Fried Dragon Fish (1993).
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Shunji Iwai Film Festival
Hiroshi Ôguchi
Derrick Holmes
Hiroshi Ôguchi was born on November
Derrick Holmes is an actor, known
28, 1950 in Saitama, Japan. He
for Fried Dragon Fish (1993),
was an actor, known for Silk (2007),
Godzilla vs. Biollante (1989) and
Fried Dragon Fish (1993) and Ai no
Dynasty Warriors 2 (2000).
mukidashi (2008). He died on January 25, 2009 in Tokyo, Japan.
Alan Casemore
Hajime Yamazaki
Alan Casemore is an actor, known for
Hajime Yamazaki was born on September
Fried Dragon Fish (1993).
13, 1957 in Kanagawa, Japan. He is an actor, known for Kamen Rider Fourze (2011), Jo gakusei no tomo (2001) and Suwarôteiru (1996).
Tomorowo Taguchi
Ken Mitsuishi
Tomorowo Taguchi was born on
Ken Mitsuishi was born on September 26,
November 30, 1957 in Tokyo, Japan as
1961 in Fukuoka, Japan. He is an actor,
Tomorou Taguchi. He is an actor and
known for Audition (1999), The Thin Red
director, known for Tetsuo, the Iron Man
Line (1998) and The Pillow Book (1996).
(1989), Tetsuo II: Body Hammer (1992) and Non-Stop (1996).
Festival Films
Rev iew
Shunji Iwai Film Festival
Fried Dragon Fish A detective looking for a rare variety of dragon fish signs up to try out a new information database. The salesman stresses that a ‘pretty temp’ in her twenties comes with the package to help you figure out its workings. Enter Poo, a brassy rough diamond who elbows her way into the detective’s caseload. What she doesn’t realize is that the fish is in the possession of assassin-in-waiting Tadanobu Asano. That is about as much of the plot as can be gleaned from this patchy, lightweight effort from Iwai that pleases the eye more than anything else. Very much like Picnic, the film allows glimpses of the lush visual style that would become Iwai’s forte, and clearly shows Asano as a star in ascendancy, without actually paying off on total in terms of emotional punch. There is a romance, but it is flat. There is a bad guy, but we never get to know anything about him. Interestingly, there are nonJapanese actors who are cringe-inducingly bad, sheer criminal in fact. Recently, with regard to films like Silk and Memoirs of a Geisha people complain about the orientalist perspective of Asians on cinema screens. It is rarely mentioned that such wooden, two-dimensional occidentalist projections of non-Japanese are fairly common in J-Cinema. Thankfully, Iwai sorted it all out to a mesmerising degree in Swallowtail, still the intercultural movie primus inter pares. Like Picnic, Iwai fans charting his trajectory will enjoy seeing the rough edges that were smoothed out later (the jarring classical music, the OTT TV acting). If you are coming to Iwai for the first time, do not start here. Go to Love Letter first, then Swallowtail Butterfly. If you do not like either of those, you’ll despise this. If LL and SW do it for you, come here to see the nascent musings of one of cinema’s greatest living directors.
Hit-and-miss early Iwai hints at greater things to come 28 September 2008 | by CountZero313 (Japan)
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Festival Films
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Shunji Iwai Film Festival
1995
mountain climbing accident. While looking through his high school yearbook, Hiroko in a fit of grief decides to write a letter to him using his old school address. Surprisingly she receives a reply, not from the dead Itsuki, but from a woman with the same name whom had known Hiroko’s fiancé in school. A relationship develops between the two women as they continue to exchange letters and share memories of the dead Itsuki.
Love Letter
Hiroko Watanabe’s fiancé Itsuki died two years earlier in a
Cast Miho Nakayama / Itsuki Fujii Miho Nakayama was born on March 1, 1970 in Tokyo, Japan. She is an actress, known for Love Letter (1995), Tokyo biyori (1997) and Docchini suruno (1989). She was previously married to Jinsei Tsuji.
Etsushi Toyokawa / Akiba Shigeru Etsushi Toyokawa was born on March 18, 1962 in Osaka, Japan. He is an actor and director, known for Love Letter (1995), Hura g창ru (2006) and Kao (2000).
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Shunji Iwai Film Festival
Bunjaku Han / Female itsuki’s mother Bunjaku Han was born on April 15, 1948
Katsuyuki Shinohara / Female itsuki’s grandfather
in Tokyo, Japan as Fan Wenshiao. She
Katsuyuki Shinohara was born on April 15,
was an actress, known for Love Letter
1942 in Hokkaido, Japan. He is an actor,
(1995), Stray Cat Rock: Wild Jumbo
known for Love Letter (1995), Kyatapirâ
(1970) and Stray Cat Rock: Machine
(2010) and Mâjan hourouki (1984).
Animal (1970). She died on November 5, 2002 in Chiyoda, Tokyo.
Miki Sakai / Itsuki Fujii as a young girl
Takashi Kashiwabara / Male itsuki fujii
Miki Sakai was born on February 21,
Takashi Kashiwabara was born in
1978 in Shizuoka, Japan. She is an
Yamanashi, Japan on March 16, 1977.
actress, known for Love Letter (1995),
He has a father, mother, brother (Shuji),
Aisuru (1997) and Yukai (1997).
and sister (Shiho).
Ken Mitsuishi / Abekasu
Emiko Nagata / Harumi
Ken Mitsuishi was born on September 26,
Emiko Nagata is an actress, known for
1961 in Fukuoka, Japan. He is an actor,
Love Letter (1995), Roppongi Fake:
known for Audition (1999), The Thin Red
Kizu darake no tenshi-tachi (1997) and
Line (1998) and The Pillow Book (1996).
Pachinko Graffiti (1992).
Festival Films
Rev iew
Shunji Iwai Film Festival
Love Letter On the surface, this is a simple yet moving love story. However, through its twin protagonists, this film explores our relation to the past and how various parts of it may be idealised, suppressed, or distorted, in part based on our assumptions about others that usually go unstated and unchallenged. This latter point is reinforced through a subplot involving (female) Itsuki’s grandfather and a past tragedy. The film is very striking visually, in turns showing sweeping landscapes and intimately detailed portraits. Emotions are at times powerfully conveyed by a camera movement accompanied by a well chosen musical score. The limited use of a hand-held camera jarred with the serene beauty of the rest of the film, which no doubt was the intent, but I found it to be a minor distraction. All in all, a very poetic missive delivered to us by the skilled hand of Shunji Iwai.
Author: Robodok from Sydney, Australia 24 June 2003
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Festival Films
25
Shunji Iwai Film Festival
1998
Swallowtail Butterfly, Shunji Iwai spins this sweet tale about a young lass' first steps in the bustle of the big city. Uzuki Nireno (Takako Matsu) is leaving her rural home in the snowy north of Hokkaido for college in Western Tokyo. Her transition to big city life isn't easy; she muffed her self-introduction in class and she had an unfortunate incident in a movie theater with an overly solicitous pervert. In spite of this, she starts to feel settled after she unpacks and after she explores her neighborhood. She also befriends tough-talking Saeko (Rumi) who invites her to join the school's fishing club. Though she initially has no interest in the pursuit, she soon is practicing her cast in a parking lot as upper classmen lavish her with attention. Uzuki, however, is not interested. When she was in high school, she fell for a hunky classmate (Seiichi Tanabe) who just so happens to be working in a local bookshop. Will she summon the courage to say "hi?"
April Story
Following up on the phenomenal success of his Love Letter and
Cast Takako Matsu / Nireno, Uzuki Takako Matsu was born on June 10, 1977 in Tokyo, Japan as Takako Fujima. She is an actress, known for Kokuhaku (2010), Kakushi ken oni no tsume (2004) and Frozen (2013). She has been married to Yoshiyuki Sahashi since December 28, 2007.
Seiichi Tanabe / Yamazaki Seiichi Tanabe was born on April 3, 1969 in Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan. He is an actor and director, known for Ringu 0 (2000), Gaich没 (2001) and Shigatsu monogatari (1998). He has been married to Nene Ohtsuka since 2002.
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Shunji Iwai Film Festival
Kaori Fujii / Kitao, Teruko
Rumi / Saeko Sono
Kaori Fujii was born on September 23,
Rumi is an actress, known for Shigatsu
1965 in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan. She
monogatari (1998), Iki-jigoku (2000) and
is an actress, known for Tokyo Fist
Furenchi doressingu (1998).
(1995), Shigatsu monogatari (1998) and Haze (2005).
Kazuhiko Kato / Kato
Ken Mitsuishi / Salaryman Fu no Otoko
Kazuhiko Kato was born in 1947 in
Ken Mitsuishi was born on September 26,
Kyoto, Japan. He is known for his work
1961 in Fukuoka, Japan. He is an actor,
on Pacchigi! (2004), Tantei monogatari
known for Audition (1999), The Thin Red
(1983) and Shimotsuma monogatari
Line (1998) and The Pillow Book (1996).
(2004). He died on October 17, 2009 in Karuizawa, Nagano, Japan. Y么suke Eguchi / Oda Nobunaga
Tatsuya Ishii / Akechi Mitsuhide
Y么suke Eguchi was born on December
Tatsuya Ishii was born on September 22,
31, 1967 in Tokyo, Japan. He is an actor,
1959 in Ibaraki, Japan.
known for Goemon (2009), Gui si (2006) and Suwar么teiru (1996). He has been married to Chisato Moritaka since 1999.
Festival Films
Rev iew
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Shunji Iwai Film Festival
April Story For those who can remember or those who have
In the first week alone, she faces the not too
yet to discover, the first few weeks at college
delicate questioning of fellow students about
away from home can be the most unsettling,
her background and why she came to college,
scary, and challenging time of our life, yet few
the loneliness of being away from home for the
films have chosen to dramatize this commonly
first time, and the confusing time of signing up
shared experience, preferring instead to dwell on
for classes and studying such strange topics
outrageous varieties of anti-social behavior. In
as Investment in the Japanese Economy and
April Story, a 1998 film, Shunji Iwai continues his
Cultural Anthropology.
sensitive interpretations of the difficulties young people face in stepping gingerly into the adult world. This 68-minute film has little plot and no big events, only the small struggles of daily life that are filled with the subtle meanings that helps us grow.
Although withdrawn, Uzuki is adventurous enough to join a Fly-Fishing Club at the urging of her only friend Saeko Sano (Rumi), but is embarrassed when she confuses one Brad Pitt movie for another in a discussion with the group leader. One of the loveliest scenes takes place
Set amidst the blossoming of the spring flowers
when the newly recruited club members stand
in Japan that signal the start of the new Japanese
in an open field and cast their fishing rods
school year, April Story, aided by a solo piano and
rhythmically into the air. Uzuki’s exploration
the beautiful cinematography of Shinoda Noboru,
of her surroundings brings daily trips to the
has a calming anÂŹd meditative effect. For the
local bookstore (where she is intrigued by a
shy and innocent Uzuki Noreno (Takako Matsu),
bushy-haired young clerk), an encounter with
however, coming to Musashino University in Tokyo
a harassing gentleman in a movie theater, and
from rural Hokkaido may be the psychological
the inviting sounds of a street band. Fearfully,
equivalent of landing on the moon.
she reaches out to her neighbors but achieves little result. It is only late in the film that the real reason for her attending this particular university emerges and in a heavy spring rain that paints the city with a refreshing glow, the magic of first love begins to unfold.
Howard Schumann from Vancouver, B.C. 30 September 2007
Festival Films
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Shunji Iwai Film Festival
2001
absurd in Japan’s pervasive pop/cyber culture. As they negotiate teen badlands-school bullies, parents from another planet, lurid snapshots of sex and death-these everyday rebels without a cause seek sanctuary, even salvation, through pop star savior Lily Chou-Chou, embracing her sad, dreamy songs and sharing their fears and secrets in Lilyholic chat rooms. Immersed in the speed of everyday troubles, their lives inevitably climax in a fatal collision between real and virtual identities, a final logging-off from innocence.
All about Lily Chou- Chou
Life isn’t easy for a group of high school kids growing up
Cast Hayato Ichihara / Y没ichi Hasumi Hayato Ichihara was born on February 6, 1987 in Kawasaki, Japan. He is an actor, known for All About Lily ChouChou (2001), Niji no megami (2006) and Kamisama no pazuru (2008).
Sh没go Oshinari / Shusuke Hoshino Sh没go Oshinari was born on March 5, 1981 in Chiba, Japan. He is an actor, known for All About Lily Chou-Chou (2001), Battle Royale II (2003) and Aoi haru (2001).
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Shunji Iwai Film Festival
Ayumi Itô / Yôko Kuno
Takao Ohsawa / Tabito Takao
Ayumi Ito was active as a child model.
Takao Ohsawa was born on March
In 1993, she made her film debut
11, 1968 in Tokyo, Japan. He is an
in Mizu no tabibito: Samurai kizzu
actor and producer, known for Ookami
(1993). Her distinctive style then led to
kodomo no Ame to Yuki (2012), Sekai
her superb acting in the 1996 feature,
no chûshin de, ai o sakebu (2004) and
Suwarôteiru (1996).
Wara no tate (2013).
Miwako Ichikawa / Shimabukuro
Izumi Inamori / Izumi Hoshino
Miwako Ichikawa was born on March
Izumi Inamori was born on March 19,
19, 1976 in Tokyo, Japan. She is an
1972 in Kagoshima, Japan. She is an
actress, known for All About Lily Chou-
actress, known for All About Lily Chou-
Chou (2001), Anaza hevun (2000) and
Chou (2001), Iryû: Team Medical Dragon
Konsento (2001).
(2006) and Happy Mania (1998).
Yû Aoi / Shiori Tsuda
Kazusa Matsuda / Sumika Kanzaki
Yû Aoi was born on August 17, 1985 in
Kazusa Matsuda was born on April
Fukuoka, Japan as Yû Natsui. She is an
3, 1982 in Fukuoka, Japan. She is
actress, known for Tekkonkinkreet (2006),
an actress, known for All About Lily
Redline (2009) and Hura gâru (2006).
Chou-Chou (2001), Sekai no chûshin de, ai o sakebu (2004) and Tameiki no riyuu (2005).
Festival Films
Rev iew
Shunji Iwai Film Festival
All about Lily Chou- Chou The one agreeable thing that can be said about Shunji Iwai is that he makes beautiful images. Lily Chou Chou is his most recent release (and let me state, since someone incorrectly wrote it is pronounced “Choo Choo” it is not, it is spoken “Shoo Shoo”), and one of his most coherent films. For some reason this movie seems to puzzle a lot of people... maybe it is the translation from English to Japanese (I watched the movie in Japanese dialog only, so I don’t know if they killed it with subtitles or not), but the movie’s plot is really not so complicated. If you know a little bit about Japanese life and culture, the emotions of youth, and devotion to an artist then you can watch this movie and understand it. Even for those who were confused by the plot, another one or two viewings should clear up any misunderstandings. Iwai does have some issues with complicating plot stories, or leaving out plot. As a writer he is great, but not perfect. As a director of film and photography he is mind blowing. The images that Iwai creates and displays to the audience are the most beautiful presented. Whether or not the story behind this movie shines to you, the images should be enough to blow your mind. Iwai uses re-occurring themes to present lovely contrasts. He also chose a beautiful selection of music to accompany his film, from Debussy to old Okinawan songs to Lily Chou Chou’s own. If you pay attention to the gentle subtleties presented in this film, there is no way you can walk away with your life unchanged. I know this film has changed my life, and has become my main source of inspiration.
4 June 2004 | by lilyholic (Kobe, Japan)
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Festival Films
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Shunji Iwai Film Festival
2004
Alice notice a boy a year older them while waiting for the train, and they both develop a pretty strong crush on him. One day while secretly following him home, Hana witnesses the boy walk right into a wall and pass out. When he wakes up, she lies and convinces him that he must have amnesia, because he doesn’t remember the fact that she was his girlfriend. After this, hilarity ensues as the two girls attempt to run with the lie. Of course, complications soon arise.
Hana & Alice
Upon entering high school, two best friends named Hana and
Cast Anne Suzuki / Hana Anne Suzuki was born on April 27, 1987 in Tokyo, Japan. She is an actress, known for Suchîmubôi (2004), Snow Falling on Cedars (1999) and Returner (2002).
Yû Aoi / Setsuko “Alice” Arisugawa Yû Aoi was born on August 17, 1985 in Fukuoka, Japan as Yû Natsui. She is an actress, known for Tekkonkinkreet (2006), Redline (2009) and Hura gâru (2006).
Shunji Iwai Film Festival
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Tomohiro Kaku / Masashi Miyamoto
Shôko Aida / Alice’s Mother
Tomohiro Kaku was born on September 5,
Shôko Aida was born on February 23,
1984 in Kanagawa, Japan. He is an actor,
1970 in Higashimurayama, Japan. She
known for Hana to Arisu (2004), Ao no
is an actress, known for Hana to Arisu
toki (2001) and Ju-on 2 (2000).
(2004), Niji no megami (2006) and Hana to Arisu satsujin jiken (2015). She has been married to Hiromitsu Aizawa since August 21, 2008.
Sei Hiraizumi / Alice’s Father
Takao Ohsawa / Photographer
Hiroshi Abe was born on June 22, 1964
Takao Ohsawa was born on March
in Kanagawa, Japan. He is an actor,
11, 1968 in Tokyo, Japan. He is an
known for Still Walking (2008), Chocolate
actor and producer, known for Ookami
(2008) and Godzilla 2000 (1999).
kodomo no Ame to Yuki (2012), Sekai no chûshin de, ai o sakebu (2004) and Wara no tate (2013).
Ryôko Hirosue / Editor Ryôko Hirosue was born on July 18, 1980 in Kochi, Japan. She is an actress, known for Departures (2008), Wasabi (2001) and Himitsu (1999). She has been married to Candle June since October 9, 2010. They have one child. She was previously married to Takahiro Okazawa.
Festival Films
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Shunji Iwai Film Festival
Hana & Alice It may look like just another saccharine love-
Director Shunji Iwai once again establishes a
triangle romance, but Hana & Alice is actually
particularly delectable mood-as only he can-and
a deceptively tender and subtle paean to how
has the guts to carry it all the way. Although most
gorgeous and sweet friendship can be. Although
of the press and public attention in the Far East
initially we have two high-school girls, Anne
focused on the freshness of Aoi Yuu, it is the former
Suzuki and Aoi Yuu, squabble over a hapless
child actor Suzuki Anne who gives a performance
senior, the film isn’t really about teen crushes
of veritable subtlety, so nuanced and superbly
and jealousy. Instead, as layers of each girl’s
mannered that you almost don’t notice it until
background and character are peeled away,
you give it a thought. She has the less flashy and
we discover a surprising amount of depth and
more mundane role of the two, yet there isn’t one
resonance to Hana and Alice’s friendship. The
moment where she’s caught acting, something that
ballet scene is much talked about and fawned
sadly can’t be said for Yuu. To think that Suzuki has
over, but the real highlight for me was where we
just turned 18-what a career she has in store for us.
find out that Hana was in fact a near-autistic child, shunning the outer world from her flower house, until Alice came along and enticed her out into the world. This scene increases the emotional strength of both the film and the girls’ relationship exponentially, and turns the movie from merely entertaining into truly touching.
Although somewhat long and dragging in places (you can only enjoy so many shots of young girls in tights dancing-no, hang on...) Hana & Alice is a rare instance where one is allowed a flight of fancy without the attendant guilt, and in which friendship is explored with affection not angst. Don’t let the fluffy romance tag fool you: this is a film which makes you nostalgic for those dreary days back in youth when you had your best friend walk alongside you on the way to school and didn’t realize how special or fleeting it was. kjihwan from South Korea 12 May 2005
chapter 04
45
Location
47
Hakone Estate & Gardens Why here Shunji Iwai has lived and worked in both New York and Los Angeles for periods his career. As part of its commitment to promoting and preserving Japanese culture in California, the Hakone Estate and Gardens is hosting the Sentimental Spring film festival, which will include a personal appearance by the director.
Location
Shunji Iwai Film Festival
Hakone Estate & Gardens Hakone Estate and Gardens 21000 Big Basin Way, Saratoga, CA 95070 Phone: 408.741.4994 Fax: 408.741.4993 Email: giftshop@hakone.com
Introduction One of the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s premier sites and 100 years old, Hakone is one of the oldest Japanese estate, retreat and gardens in the Western Hemisphere. Hakone has also been on the National Register of Historic Places since 2013. 18 acres of magnificent beauty is nestled in the verdant hills of Saratoga overlooking Silicon Valley. There are many different traditional events in this garden. For example, the Lunar New Year Festival (February 28th) and Silicon Valley Reads “Chance of Rain” Tea Ceremony (March 11th) People could join the different culture events after or before the film festival. This is a good chance to know about Japanese culture.
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chapter 05
51
Schedule
Day 1
Day 2
Sunday/ March 5
Monday / March 6
Sign In / 10.am
Guided Tour / 11.am Guided tour of estate, with special visit
Opening Reception / 11.am
to tea garden and sharing in traditional Japanese tea ceremony.
Stroll in the gardens and meet Shunji Iwai in person. This is a chance to get your DVD’s of the festival films signed by the director.
Film Screenings / 1.pm April Story / 1h7min All about Lily Chou-Chou /2h 26min
Film Screenings / 1.pm Fried Dragon Fish / 50min Love Letter / 1h57min
53
Day 3 Wednesday/ March 8 Film Screenings / 11.am Hana & Alice / 2h 15min
After party / 3.pm Enjoy Japanese cuisine, accompanied by live traditional Japanese music.
Fried Dragon Fish
Love Letter
Tickets
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DATE
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All about Lily Chou- Chou
April Story
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Hana & Alice SEAT 2-2
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Sources www.imdb.com/title/tt0113703/reviews?ref_=tt_urv www.imdb.com/name/nm0412517/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1 www.imdb.com/title/tt0113703/?ref_=nm_knf_i2 www.imdb.com/title/tt0407851/?ref_=nm_flmg_wr_11 www.imdb.com/title/tt0297721/?ref_=nm_flmg_wr_13 www.imdb.com/title/tt0106967/?ref_=nm_flmg_wr_22 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shunji_Iwai rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/shunji_iwai/ mubi.com/cast/shunji-iwai movie.douban.com/celebrity/1005064/ movie.douban.com/celebrity/1005064/movies?sortby=time&format=pic& www.asiapacificarts.usc.edu/(X(1) www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXfuJyP4eFA whatsuphollywood.com/2013/07/01/exclusive-interview-with-shunji-iwai-director-of-vampire/ shunjiiwaifan.blogspot.com/ personal.amy-wong.com/2012/09/14/shunji-iwai-festival-vampire-interview/ www.kimchidvd.com/en/good/goods.jsp?good_seq=19220 www.objectif-cinema.com/interviews/112.php www.edmundyeo.com/2011/06/conversations-between-iwai-shunji-and.html altamugs.tumblr.com/post/78021313456/natalies-interview-with-fullkawa-honpo-part-35
Lessons we learn from our first love in the films if Shunji Iwai.