Independent Japanese films in Karlovy Vary
March 31, 2009, 9:01 AM
The idea of selecting three noteworthy Japanese films from the program of Tokyo’s independent festival came about when the director of Tokyo FilmeX, Kanako Hayashi, sat on the documentary jury last year at the Karlovy Vary IFF. The festival, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, represents, in her words, a new trend for Asian film, one that attempts to create a bridge between audiences and movies which rarely make it to theaters.
Enthusiastic moviegoers, full theaters, and top organization are, according to Kanako Hayashi, the main reasons why Tokyo FilmeX welcomed Karlovy Vary’s invitation to work together. “We’re glad of the opportunity to present quality new Japanese films to Karlovy Vary’s young audiences,” said Kanako Hayashi.
The overview includes the latest film from controversial director and poet Sion Sono, whose gripping generation-gap portrait, Noriko’s Dinner Table, fascinated jurors and spectators alike at the 2005 Karlovy Vary IFF. Sono’s latest film, the extravagant four-hour Love Exposure (Ai No Mukidashi), which led off the Forum section at this year’s Berlinale and was designated scandalous, brilliant, and provocative, was one of the top Asian picks at the Berlin festival. Sono’s film was presented as a world-premiere Special Screening at the 2008 Tokyo FilmeX festival.
Two other films have been selected from the competition: Passion, a nontraditional story of love entanglements directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi, which screened at the San Sebastian festival, and Non-ko (Nonko 36sai Kaji tetsudai, dir. Kazuyoshi Kumakiri), a love story between an ex-porn star and a much younger man.
The director of Tokyo FilmeX believes that at least two of the filmmakers will come to Karlovy Vary to present their movies and take questions from viewers.
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