This year’s JFF is jam-packed with great films, and of course I like them all - that’s why I chose them for the festival! As you can imagine it’s very difficult for me to pick a single film to recommend over and above the others. But this year, two of the greatest standouts for me are Yamakoshi: The Recovery of a Tiny Japanese Village and The Town’s Children. Both of these films – one documentary, one doco-fiction – take real-life natural disasters as a point of departure for their stories, so what captivated me was the unexpected sense of strength, warmth and hope burning steadily at the heart of each. Calamity strips life back to its essence, and in portraying this, Yamakoshi and The Town’s Children offer us a precious opportunity to stop and reflect on what we hold dear to us, and why. Particularly considering the events in Japan earlier this year, I’m delighted to be able to screen these films in Australia, and I hope as many people as possible will read this recommendation and come and see them! See you there.
Have you ever found yourself sitting on a train or bus wondering about the lives of other people in your carriage? What if you turned around one day and initiated a conversation with someone? The result could be of two extremes - one/ you discover you have things in common and become good friends or two/ they think you're strange; things become awkward; and it becomes the longest ride home ever.
See what happens as Hankyu Railways explores the 'what ifs' in daily encounters - I watched this on the flight back from Japan and thoroughly enjoyed it.
This is one of those warm, understated movies that gently makes you feel happier for having seen it. Watching it reminded me a little of Seachange in both premise and tone. The central character, Tsutsui, is an elite exec who reached the upper echelons of his company at the expense of his childhood dreams. Some timely misfortunes conspire to awaken him to the fact that he doesn't enjoy his work and that he has also been an absent and preoccupied husband/father/son. This provides enough impetuous for him to quit his career and apply for work as a train driver in his old home town. Like Seachange, there are plenty of funny moments scattered around like the railway job interview and heading back to the classroom.
As a matter of disclosure, I must admit that I randomly happened to preview this title out of the entire film lineup. And I am glad I did. Films like this are perfect tonic to demonstrate all that is missing when accustomed to watching explosions, giant robots and pneumatic heroines.
OMG Kimura Takuya~ <3 If you don't know already, Kimura Takuya plays Kodai Susumu, the maverick captain of Space Battleship Yamato when Earth starts being attacked with radioactive asteroids by the alien race Gamilons. With a stellar supporting cast including actress Kuroki Meisa and veteran actor Nishida Toshiyuki, this film will please sci-fi fans and will definitely be an eye-opener for lovers of shows like Battlestar Galatica or Star Trek. Oh and not forgetting the fans of Kimutaku. 4 out of 5 stars!
Arrietty is an anime created by the renowned Studio Ghibli, based on Mary Norton's novel The Borrowers. It tells the story of a young boy named Shō who discovers a family of "tiny people" known as Borrowers living in his great-aunt's house. Like many Studio Ghibli movies it has a quiet charm that draws the audience in - there's something fascinating about seeing our world and its everyday objects from the perspective of a Borrower! This is a movie that will appeal not only to children but to adults as well.
I started watching this film one night after coming home late from work, planning to turn it off after the first half hour and get some much-needed sleep. But come the half-hour mark, there was no question of switching off: I was completely drawn in. What can I say? It’s subtle, but as the old adage goes, still waters run deep, and I get the sense that the director is a man of few words and extraordinary intuition. As the film progresses, the title begins to make sense: this is a serenade, sung softly and quietly to millions at once, yet somehow as you listen you know it’s meant for you alone. Shinsan doesn’t have the usual easy drawcards of snappy title, fancy costumes or glitzy sets (meaning it tends to go under the radar), so I’m glad to have the opportunity to recommend it here. Go Shinsan!
If you’re looking for a new view of Japan, then this is the film for you! Imagine a land of all women and few men...how would that be?
The costumes in this film are so beautiful and the play on men in society is something I had never seen before. A great drama, informative but so picturesque at the same time. Might even have a tear. Don't miss it.
Based on the manga Gaku: Minna no Yama by Shinichi Ishizuka, the live-action film Peak: The Rescuers takes the viewers to a world of breathtaking snow-capped mountains whose magnificent beauty and deadly danger go hand in hand and a world of brave rescuers whose job requires them to face death every single second of their life. Sanpo Shimazaki (Oguri Shun) is an experienced volunteer rescuer who can skillfully deal with any disasters and deaths. He simply says one sentence, ‘You’ve done the best that you can!’ Meanwhile, a new rookie, Shiina Kumi (Nagasawa Masami) always finds it difficult to face emergencies. Learning from other experienced members, particularly Sanpo, Kumi gradually becomes more matured but she still somewhat cannot fully believe in herself…
Having talented Oguri Shun and delicate Nagasawa Masami feature as the leading characters, Peak can assure Japanese movie lovers of an amazing and humane adventure into the mental battle of rescuers who are believed to be the toughest but still do have weak moments. The movie holds in it a special message of hope given that it was screened one month after Japan was seriously hit by the earthquake and tsunami disaster. A compassionate 126 minute lesson of solidarity, belief, love, sympathy and sacrifice that cannot be missed!
This year’s JFF is jam-packed with great films, and of course I like them all - that’s why I chose them for the festival! As you can imagine it’s very difficult for me to pick a single film to recommend over and above the others. But this year, two of the greatest standouts for me are Yamakoshi: The Recovery of a Tiny Japanese Village and The Town’s Children. Both of these films – one documentary, one doco-fiction – take real-life natural disasters as a point of departure for their stories, so what captivated me was the unexpected sense of strength, warmth and hope burning steadily at the heart of each. Calamity strips life back to its essence, and in portraying this, Yamakoshi and The Town’s Children offer us a precious opportunity to stop and reflect on what we hold dear to us, and why. Particularly considering the events in Japan earlier this year, I’m delighted to be able to screen these films in Australia, and I hope as many people as possible will read this recommendation and come and see them! See you there. 
It’s not that I really want you all to see how I failed in love… it’s just that this movie, and all the scenes of the great, adorable, venerable Milocrorze in it, hold a special place in my heart. Well, the place where my heart used to be, at any rate. But what I want to say is - for all of you out there deadlocked in a struggle with that untameable, ferocious multi-headed beast that is love, watch this film for a reason to hang on. Or a reason to let go. Or a reason to wear fruity colours and a saucepan lid on your jumper. You choose. And don’t be mislead by my wardrobe – in this film, all argyle knits and checks are cut with a healthy dose of sleek black riding leather and the menacing glint of icy steel blades, with a gourmet sample of cheap hotel cabaret on the side. Now that’s my kind of Friday night fare. 
Have you ever found yourself sitting on a train or bus wondering about the lives of other people in your carriage? What if you turned around one day and initiated a conversation with someone? The result could be of two extremes - one/ you discover you have things in common and become good friends or two/ they think you're strange; things become awkward; and it becomes the longest ride home ever. 
This is one of those warm, understated movies that gently makes you feel happier for having seen it. Watching it reminded me a little of Seachange in both premise and tone. The central character, Tsutsui, is an elite exec who reached the upper echelons of his company at the expense of his childhood dreams. Some timely misfortunes conspire to awaken him to the fact that he doesn't enjoy his work and that he has also been an absent and preoccupied husband/father/son. This provides enough impetuous for him to quit his career and apply for work as a train driver in his old home town. Like Seachange, there are plenty of funny moments scattered around like the railway job interview and heading back to the classroom. 
OMG Kimura Takuya~ <3 If you don't know already, Kimura Takuya plays Kodai Susumu, the maverick captain of Space Battleship Yamato when Earth starts being attacked with radioactive asteroids by the alien race Gamilons. With a stellar supporting cast including actress Kuroki Meisa and veteran actor Nishida Toshiyuki, this film will please sci-fi fans and will definitely be an eye-opener for lovers of shows like Battlestar Galatica or Star Trek. Oh and not forgetting the fans of Kimutaku. 4 out of 5 stars! 
変。いや、かなり変な映画です。 
Arrietty is an anime created by the renowned Studio Ghibli, based on Mary Norton's novel The Borrowers. It tells the story of a young boy named Shō who discovers a family of "tiny people" known as Borrowers living in his great-aunt's house. Like many Studio Ghibli movies it has a quiet charm that draws the audience in - there's something fascinating about seeing our world and its everyday objects from the perspective of a Borrower! This is a movie that will appeal not only to children but to adults as well. 
I started watching this film one night after coming home late from work, planning to turn it off after the first half hour and get some much-needed sleep. But come the half-hour mark, there was no question of switching off: I was completely drawn in. What can I say? It’s subtle, but as the old adage goes, still waters run deep, and I get the sense that the director is a man of few words and extraordinary intuition. As the film progresses, the title begins to make sense: this is a serenade, sung softly and quietly to millions at once, yet somehow as you listen you know it’s meant for you alone. Shinsan doesn’t have the usual easy drawcards of snappy title, fancy costumes or glitzy sets (meaning it tends to go under the radar), so I’m glad to have the opportunity to recommend it here. Go Shinsan! 
If you’re looking for a new view of Japan, then this is the film for you! Imagine a land of all women and few men...how would that be? 
Based on the manga Gaku: Minna no Yama by Shinichi Ishizuka, the live-action film 
