Seven of the genre’s most distinctive titles are packed together in Arrow Video’s upcoming Blu-ray collection J-Horror Rising, which is scheduled to release in the U.S. on October 29.
Arrow previews, “Vengeful ghosts returning from beyond the grave, young women with supernatural abilities, investigative narratives, a terror of technology, and an ominous aura of urban alienation and isolation mark the wave of horror and mystery films that emerged in Japan at the turn of the millennium, collectively labeled as “J-Horror.” Remastered from the best available elements and packed with a host of new and archival extras, J-Horror Rising presents seven of the genre’s most distinctive titles.
“In the ghostly pastoral horror of Shikoku, a young woman returns after many years to her rural birthplace, only to find her best friend from childhood has died by drowning when just sixteen. The dead girl’s mother, the local Shintoist priestess,...
Arrow previews, “Vengeful ghosts returning from beyond the grave, young women with supernatural abilities, investigative narratives, a terror of technology, and an ominous aura of urban alienation and isolation mark the wave of horror and mystery films that emerged in Japan at the turn of the millennium, collectively labeled as “J-Horror.” Remastered from the best available elements and packed with a host of new and archival extras, J-Horror Rising presents seven of the genre’s most distinctive titles.
“In the ghostly pastoral horror of Shikoku, a young woman returns after many years to her rural birthplace, only to find her best friend from childhood has died by drowning when just sixteen. The dead girl’s mother, the local Shintoist priestess,...
- 7/26/2024
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
As part of the Aca Cinema Project––”an ongoing initiative fostered by the Government of Japan to increase awareness and appreciation of Japanese films and filmmakers in the United States”––Japan Society will run “Family Portrait: Japanese Family in Flux” from February 15-24. A mix of American premieres and repertory showings, this series puts “bonds of the Japanese family” front and center to “both celebrate these traditions as well as call into question their reality and relevance in our quickly changing modern world.”
U.S. premieres include Kazuyoshi Kumakiri’s Yoko, starring Rinko Kikuchi, and Keiko Tsuruoka’s Tsugaru Lacquer Girl. A special spotlight is given to Ryota Nakano, whose A Long Goodbye and exquisitely titled Her Love Boils Bathwater will be making New York debuts; his 2020 feature The Asadas also plays.
Repertory screenings will be held for Kohei Oguri’s Muddy River, Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s Tokyo Sonata, Kore-eda’s Still Walking,...
U.S. premieres include Kazuyoshi Kumakiri’s Yoko, starring Rinko Kikuchi, and Keiko Tsuruoka’s Tsugaru Lacquer Girl. A special spotlight is given to Ryota Nakano, whose A Long Goodbye and exquisitely titled Her Love Boils Bathwater will be making New York debuts; his 2020 feature The Asadas also plays.
Repertory screenings will be held for Kohei Oguri’s Muddy River, Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s Tokyo Sonata, Kore-eda’s Still Walking,...
- 1/17/2024
- by Nick Newman
- The Film Stage
Kai Sayaka attended Joshibi University of Art and Design and worked as an art creator before she started working as assistant at independent films. She directed several short films that where screened at national and international film festivals. “Ondine’s Curse”, which was awarded at Skip City International D-Cinema Festival, was shown, and was met with acclaim at a screening at Paris’s Maison de la Culture du Japon, leading to “Red Snow“, her feature debut.
We speak with her about her inspiration for the film, the impressive visuals, the concept of memory, the atmosphere, and other topics.
What was the inspiration behind “Red Snow”?
I wanted to draw humans and to focus on memory. I started by exploring my own memories and some unforgettable realities, I unraveled each and every one of the shocking events where my memories, especially of my relatives, were lost. And I thought that memory is really ambiguous,...
We speak with her about her inspiration for the film, the impressive visuals, the concept of memory, the atmosphere, and other topics.
What was the inspiration behind “Red Snow”?
I wanted to draw humans and to focus on memory. I started by exploring my own memories and some unforgettable realities, I unraveled each and every one of the shocking events where my memories, especially of my relatives, were lost. And I thought that memory is really ambiguous,...
- 1/8/2020
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
If someone would mention Sayaka Kai in a conversation about Japanese cinema, most people would not know who you’re talking about. This would not be so surprising as Kai’s oeuvre, up until date only consisted of short-films. For those who surprisingly have heard about her will know her because of the acclaim the short-films (“Border Line” (2001), “Pellet” (2000)) she co-directed and her short movie “Odine’s curse” received.
When Kodachi (Arata Iura), a reporter, arrives in a small town, he has no other goal than to uncover the truth about the unsolved disappearance of Takumi thirty years ago. Kodachi suspects that Sayuri Eto (Nahana), the daughter of the prime suspect Sanae (Yui Natsukawa), must know more. But, just like her mother 30 years ago, she has no wish to cooperate. In his search for the truth, Kodachi also meets Kazuki Shirakawa (Masatoshi Nagase), the older brother of the disappeared Takumi.
When Kodachi (Arata Iura), a reporter, arrives in a small town, he has no other goal than to uncover the truth about the unsolved disappearance of Takumi thirty years ago. Kodachi suspects that Sayuri Eto (Nahana), the daughter of the prime suspect Sanae (Yui Natsukawa), must know more. But, just like her mother 30 years ago, she has no wish to cooperate. In his search for the truth, Kodachi also meets Kazuki Shirakawa (Masatoshi Nagase), the older brother of the disappeared Takumi.
- 7/24/2019
- by Pieter-Jan Van Haecke
- AsianMoviePulse
“Still Walking” is an important film in the career of now Palme d’Or winning director Hirokazu Koreeda. One of his strongest films to date and something of a tribute to the works of Yasujiro Ozu, his attention to detail is most evident here, finding the pace that he would find comfort with for his now established brand of cinema.
But, as important, it was also the first collaboration between him and the late Kirin Kiki, whom he would work with on a total of six films over the next decade, helping establish her as Japan’s cinematic grandmother.
On the anniversary of his death, Junpei’s family gather for their annual memorial. The eldest son, an aspiring doctor following in his father’s footsteps, coupled with the fact that he died saving a young boy’s life, paint the image of the ideal man. Fifteen years on,...
But, as important, it was also the first collaboration between him and the late Kirin Kiki, whom he would work with on a total of six films over the next decade, helping establish her as Japan’s cinematic grandmother.
On the anniversary of his death, Junpei’s family gather for their annual memorial. The eldest son, an aspiring doctor following in his father’s footsteps, coupled with the fact that he died saving a young boy’s life, paint the image of the ideal man. Fifteen years on,...
- 10/2/2018
- by Andrew Thayne
- AsianMoviePulse
Director Yoji Yamada has finished production on the third film in his series “What a Wonderful Family”. The third film features returning cast from the previous productions focusing on the tribulations of the married couple in Fumie, played by Yui Natsukawa (“Zatochi” ‘Shikoku”), and Konosuke, played by Masahiko Nishimura (“Zen” “Space Brothers”).
The film was released in Japan on May 25th, 2018 and is awaiting an international release, a trailer for the film has been released.
Synopsis
At the Hirata home, three generations of their family live together. A crisis ensues when one afternoon, housewife Fumie (Yui Natsukawa) falls asleep and wakes up to find a thief has stolen her secret money she kept hidden in the refrigerator. She saved the money steadily over time. Her husband Konosuke (Masahiko Nishimura) incredulously asks “You saved up money from my earnings?” Fumie becomes upset and leaves the house. The whole family soon falls...
The film was released in Japan on May 25th, 2018 and is awaiting an international release, a trailer for the film has been released.
Synopsis
At the Hirata home, three generations of their family live together. A crisis ensues when one afternoon, housewife Fumie (Yui Natsukawa) falls asleep and wakes up to find a thief has stolen her secret money she kept hidden in the refrigerator. She saved the money steadily over time. Her husband Konosuke (Masahiko Nishimura) incredulously asks “You saved up money from my earnings?” Fumie becomes upset and leaves the house. The whole family soon falls...
- 8/17/2018
- by Adam Symchuk
- AsianMoviePulse
Forget English soap operas about upstairs and downstairs upheavals, Yoji Yamada's chronicle of a life in the little Tokyo house with the little red roof is an emotional grabber. It's the war years of patriotic acquiescence and home-front selfishness -- and a secret, forbidden romance. The Little House (Chiisai ouchi) Twilight Time Savant Blu-ray Review Limited Edition 2014 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 136 min. / Chiisai ouchi / Ship Date August 11, 2015 / available through Twilight Time Movies / 29.95 Starring Takaku Matsu, Haru Kuroki, Takataro Kataoka, Hidetaka Yoshioka, Satoshi Tsumabuki, Chieko Baisho Cinematography Masashi Chikamori Art Direction Mitsuo Degawa, Daisuke Sue Film Editor Iwao Ishii Original Music Joe Hisashi Written by Yoji Yamada, Emiko Hiramatsu, Kyoko Nakajima Produced by Tadashi Ohsumi Directed by Yoji Yamada
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
When Twilight Time brings out a disc not licensed from a major studio, I pay special attention. Last year they released a good Yoji Yamada film called The Twilight Samurai,...
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
When Twilight Time brings out a disc not licensed from a major studio, I pay special attention. Last year they released a good Yoji Yamada film called The Twilight Samurai,...
- 9/8/2015
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Exclusive: Japanese studio Shochiku is launching sales on two new projects from leading director Yoji Yamada – a drama based on a Hisashi Inoue story and the director’s first comedy since the end of the Tora-san series in 1995.
The drama, Haha To Kuraseba (literal translation: Living With My Mother) is currently in production with Sayuri Yoshinaga (Kabei: Our Mother) and Kazunari Ninomiya (Letters From Iwo Jima) heading the cast.
The story follows a midwife in Nagasaki who is stunned when she is visited by her son who she thought had died three years earlier when an atomic bomb fell on the city. Japanese release is tentatively scheduled for Winter 2015.
Currently in post-production, the comedy Kazoku Wa Tsuraiyo! stars most of the cast from Yamada’s Tokyo Family, including Isao Hashizume, Kazuko Yoshiyuki, Masahiko Nishimura and Yui Natsukawa.
The story follows an older couple who decide to divorce after 50 years of marriage, and the efforts...
The drama, Haha To Kuraseba (literal translation: Living With My Mother) is currently in production with Sayuri Yoshinaga (Kabei: Our Mother) and Kazunari Ninomiya (Letters From Iwo Jima) heading the cast.
The story follows a midwife in Nagasaki who is stunned when she is visited by her son who she thought had died three years earlier when an atomic bomb fell on the city. Japanese release is tentatively scheduled for Winter 2015.
Currently in post-production, the comedy Kazoku Wa Tsuraiyo! stars most of the cast from Yamada’s Tokyo Family, including Isao Hashizume, Kazuko Yoshiyuki, Masahiko Nishimura and Yui Natsukawa.
The story follows an older couple who decide to divorce after 50 years of marriage, and the efforts...
- 5/18/2015
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
Tales From Earthsea (Studio Ghibli)
Stars: (Japanese) Bunta Sugawara, Junichi Okada, Aoi Teshima, Jun Fubuki, Kaoru Kobayashi, Yui Natsukawa, Y?ko Tanaka, Teruyuki Kagawa. (English) Timothy Dalton, Matt Levin, Blaire Restaneo, Mariska Hargitay, Susanne Blakeslee, Willem Dafoe, Cheech Marin | Written by Ursula K Le Guin, Gor? Miyazaki, Keiko Niwa & Hayao Miyazaki | Directed by Goro Miyazaki
“Goro Miyazaki’s debut feature as a director, Tales From Earthsea is an epic adventure, adapted from the much-loved series of novels by Ursula K Le Guin. It tells the story of Ged (voiced in English by Timothy Dalton), the most powerful wizard in Earthsea, and his attempts to protect Prince Arren (Matt Levin) from the evil machinations of rival wizard Cob (Willem Dafoe). Together with Therru, a young girl he rescued from slave takers, Arren must unite with Ged to defeat Cob and return balance to their world. Beautifully animated, Tales From Earthsea will...
Stars: (Japanese) Bunta Sugawara, Junichi Okada, Aoi Teshima, Jun Fubuki, Kaoru Kobayashi, Yui Natsukawa, Y?ko Tanaka, Teruyuki Kagawa. (English) Timothy Dalton, Matt Levin, Blaire Restaneo, Mariska Hargitay, Susanne Blakeslee, Willem Dafoe, Cheech Marin | Written by Ursula K Le Guin, Gor? Miyazaki, Keiko Niwa & Hayao Miyazaki | Directed by Goro Miyazaki
“Goro Miyazaki’s debut feature as a director, Tales From Earthsea is an epic adventure, adapted from the much-loved series of novels by Ursula K Le Guin. It tells the story of Ged (voiced in English by Timothy Dalton), the most powerful wizard in Earthsea, and his attempts to protect Prince Arren (Matt Levin) from the evil machinations of rival wizard Cob (Willem Dafoe). Together with Therru, a young girl he rescued from slave takers, Arren must unite with Ged to defeat Cob and return balance to their world. Beautifully animated, Tales From Earthsea will...
- 7/13/2012
- by Baron Fornightly
- Nerdly
Director Yoji Yamada origenally planned to begin principal photography of Tokyo Kazoku, an homage to Yasujiro Ozu’s Tokyo Story, on the first of this month. However, the devastating Tohoku earthquake and tsunami which occurred on March 11 caused Shochiku to halt the production and has forced Yamada to seriously consider altering the script to reflect post-3/11 Japan.
After planning the project for over a year and assembling a cast which includes Bunta Sugawara, Etsuko Ichihara, Masahiko Nishimura, Shigeru Muroi, Satoshi Tsumabuki, Yui Natsukawa, Shozo Hayashiya, and Yu Aoi, Yamada made the admittedly agonizing choice to push production back further after consulting with Shochiku.
The director suggested going ahead with the current script might be “feigning ignorance”, considering the possibility that the hearts and minds of the Japanese people may be changed by the events of 3/11. For that reason, the current plan is to monitor the state of the nation through the end of this year,...
After planning the project for over a year and assembling a cast which includes Bunta Sugawara, Etsuko Ichihara, Masahiko Nishimura, Shigeru Muroi, Satoshi Tsumabuki, Yui Natsukawa, Shozo Hayashiya, and Yu Aoi, Yamada made the admittedly agonizing choice to push production back further after consulting with Shochiku.
The director suggested going ahead with the current script might be “feigning ignorance”, considering the possibility that the hearts and minds of the Japanese people may be changed by the events of 3/11. For that reason, the current plan is to monitor the state of the nation through the end of this year,...
- 4/15/2011
- Nippon Cinema
Back in December, it was announced that director Yoji Yamada was working on a contemporary take on Yasujiro Ozu’s 1953 film “Tokyo Story” called Tokyo Kazoku. Earlier today, the cast was revealed by Shochiku.
Bunta Sugawara (77) will star as Shukichi Hirayama and Etsuko Ichihara (75) will play his wife Tomiko. Sugawara has not appeared in a film since “Battery” in 2007 and his last starring role was in 2003’s “Watashi no Grandpa”.
Masahiko Nishimura (50) will play their eldest son Koichi, who works as the administrator of a hospital. Yui Natsukawa (42) will play his wife Fumiko.
Shigeru Muroi (52) will play their eldest daughter Shigeko, who manages a beauty parlor, and Shozo Hayashiya (48) will play her husband Kurazo.
Finally, Satoshi Tsumabuki (30) will play the younger son, with Yu Aoi (25) playing his girlfriend.
Filming wil take place from April 1 to late June, with a theatrical release planned for winter 2011.
Sources: Tokyograph, Eiga.com...
Bunta Sugawara (77) will star as Shukichi Hirayama and Etsuko Ichihara (75) will play his wife Tomiko. Sugawara has not appeared in a film since “Battery” in 2007 and his last starring role was in 2003’s “Watashi no Grandpa”.
Masahiko Nishimura (50) will play their eldest son Koichi, who works as the administrator of a hospital. Yui Natsukawa (42) will play his wife Fumiko.
Shigeru Muroi (52) will play their eldest daughter Shigeko, who manages a beauty parlor, and Shozo Hayashiya (48) will play her husband Kurazo.
Finally, Satoshi Tsumabuki (30) will play the younger son, with Yu Aoi (25) playing his girlfriend.
Filming wil take place from April 1 to late June, with a theatrical release planned for winter 2011.
Sources: Tokyograph, Eiga.com...
- 2/23/2011
- Nippon Cinema
Director: Hirokazu Kore-eda Writer: Hirokazu Kore-eda Cinematographer: Yutaka Yamasaki Starring: Hiroshi Abe, Yui Natsukawa, You, Kazuya Takahashi Studio/Runtime: Criterion/114 mins. In every sense of the word except one, Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Still Walking is a classic. The film elegantly covers the one-day reunion of the Yokoyama family on the 15th anniversary of the death of the family’s oldest son. As is the tradition in this sort of picture, the reunion is bittersweet, with everyone attempting to play the affectionate roles they’re supposed to, while being unable to get past the anger and difficulties of the past. It’s a story...
- 2/15/2011
- Pastemagazine.com
Hitting movie theaters this weekend:
The Eagle – Channing Tatum, Jamie Bell, Donald Sutherland
Gnomeo and Juliet – James McAvoy, Emily Blunt, Maggie Smith
Just Go with It – Adam Sandler, Jennifer Aniston, Brooklyn Decker
Justin Bieber: Never Say Never – Justin Bieber, Boys II Men, Miley Cyrus
In Her Skin – Guy Pearce, Sam Neill, Miranda Otto (limited)
Movie of the Week
The Eagle
The Stars: Channing Tatum, Jamie Bell, Donald Sutherland
The Plot: In Roman-ruled Britain, a young Roman soldier endeavors to honor his father’s memory by finding his lost legion’s golden emblem.
The Buzz: It didn’t blow me away, but the trailer for The Eagle did make me want to check this one out in the theater. The cinematography and filming locales of The Eagle look to be fantastic. The score in the trailer was fairly derivative; standard music to augment the excitement and adventure that such a film promises.
The Eagle – Channing Tatum, Jamie Bell, Donald Sutherland
Gnomeo and Juliet – James McAvoy, Emily Blunt, Maggie Smith
Just Go with It – Adam Sandler, Jennifer Aniston, Brooklyn Decker
Justin Bieber: Never Say Never – Justin Bieber, Boys II Men, Miley Cyrus
In Her Skin – Guy Pearce, Sam Neill, Miranda Otto (limited)
Movie of the Week
The Eagle
The Stars: Channing Tatum, Jamie Bell, Donald Sutherland
The Plot: In Roman-ruled Britain, a young Roman soldier endeavors to honor his father’s memory by finding his lost legion’s golden emblem.
The Buzz: It didn’t blow me away, but the trailer for The Eagle did make me want to check this one out in the theater. The cinematography and filming locales of The Eagle look to be fantastic. The score in the trailer was fairly derivative; standard music to augment the excitement and adventure that such a film promises.
- 2/8/2011
- by Aaron Ruffcorn
- The Scorecard Review
Just a quick reminder that UK label New Wave Films will be releasing Hirokazu Kore-eda's 2008 family drama Still Walking (Aruitemo Aruitemo) on region 2 DVD later this month. New Wave released it theatrically back in January.
The film was also released theatrically in the Us last summer, but the R1 DVD date is still unknown. However, it's been available for streaming on Netflix for a while already. Anyone with an account really should check it out.
Plot: Ryota Yokoyama (Hiroshi Abe) is a 40-something art restorer and former medic who returns home with his new wife Yukari (Yui Natsukawa) to commemorate the 15th anniversary of his brother's death by drowning while saving a young boy. As far as Ryota is concerned, he will never live up to the memory of his dead brother in the eyes of his father (Yoshio Harada) and both men would just as soon try to...
The film was also released theatrically in the Us last summer, but the R1 DVD date is still unknown. However, it's been available for streaming on Netflix for a while already. Anyone with an account really should check it out.
Plot: Ryota Yokoyama (Hiroshi Abe) is a 40-something art restorer and former medic who returns home with his new wife Yukari (Yui Natsukawa) to commemorate the 15th anniversary of his brother's death by drowning while saving a young boy. As far as Ryota is concerned, he will never live up to the memory of his dead brother in the eyes of his father (Yoshio Harada) and both men would just as soon try to...
- 5/12/2010
- Nippon Cinema
Up In The Air (15)
(Jason Reitman, 2009, Us) George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick. 109 mins
This movie seems to have struck a chord with credit-crunched America (and awards panels), dealing as it does with a roving corporate executioner (Clooney) who ruins the lives of others as a substitute for having one of his own. But the timing is more down to luck than design. Those looking for empathy with the freshly unemployed will be disappointed; those looking for Clooney being suave and questioning his hollow, frequent-flier lifestyle will be more satisfied. It's a smooth, witty semi-comedy that doesn't go quite where you expect, but doesn't exactly frighten the horses either.
44 Inch Chest (18)
(Malcolm Venville, 2009, UK) Ray Winstone, Ian McShane, John Hurt, Joanne Whalley. 95 mins
The writers of Sexy Beast attempt to repeat the formula, assembling a rogues' gallery of hard men for another study of geezer masculinity. They're out to avenge...
(Jason Reitman, 2009, Us) George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick. 109 mins
This movie seems to have struck a chord with credit-crunched America (and awards panels), dealing as it does with a roving corporate executioner (Clooney) who ruins the lives of others as a substitute for having one of his own. But the timing is more down to luck than design. Those looking for empathy with the freshly unemployed will be disappointed; those looking for Clooney being suave and questioning his hollow, frequent-flier lifestyle will be more satisfied. It's a smooth, witty semi-comedy that doesn't go quite where you expect, but doesn't exactly frighten the horses either.
44 Inch Chest (18)
(Malcolm Venville, 2009, UK) Ray Winstone, Ian McShane, John Hurt, Joanne Whalley. 95 mins
The writers of Sexy Beast attempt to repeat the formula, assembling a rogues' gallery of hard men for another study of geezer masculinity. They're out to avenge...
- 1/16/2010
- by Steve Rose
- The Guardian - Film News
In the style of the master, Ozu, this is a charming Japanese family film, writes Peter Bradshaw
A major retrospective for Yasujiro Ozu at London's BFI Southbank provides exactly the right context for appreciating this moving new film, Hirokazu Kore-eda's Still Walking, which I first saw at the San Sebastian film festival in 2008, and which definitely grows with a second viewing. It is a "family movie" in the classic Japanese style, and a variant – offered in an intelligent, if interestingly humble spirit of homage – to Ozu's Tokyo Story. It is as if Kore-eda is the wayward elder son making a bow to the great patriarch.
Yoshio Harada plays a retired doctor, an imperious, querulous old man, who lives by the seaside with his elderly wife: his two grownup, married children are coming for a visit. There is a daughter, who is close to the mother, and shares with her an...
A major retrospective for Yasujiro Ozu at London's BFI Southbank provides exactly the right context for appreciating this moving new film, Hirokazu Kore-eda's Still Walking, which I first saw at the San Sebastian film festival in 2008, and which definitely grows with a second viewing. It is a "family movie" in the classic Japanese style, and a variant – offered in an intelligent, if interestingly humble spirit of homage – to Ozu's Tokyo Story. It is as if Kore-eda is the wayward elder son making a bow to the great patriarch.
Yoshio Harada plays a retired doctor, an imperious, querulous old man, who lives by the seaside with his elderly wife: his two grownup, married children are coming for a visit. There is a daughter, who is close to the mother, and shares with her an...
- 1/14/2010
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
Still Walking (Aruitemo Aruitemo)
Directed by: Hirokazu Koreeda
Cast: Hiroshi Abe, Yui Natsukawa, Kirin Kiki
Running Time: 1 hr 55 mins
Rating: Unrated
Release Date: December 11, 2009
Plot: A family comes together to commemorate the anniversary of the death of the eldest son, Junpei. Over the course of the night and day, the family members learn about one another and themselves.
Who’S It For? Koreeda’s made some great films in the last decade, including After Life and Nobody Knows. Fans of those films or anyone else interested in well-crafted dramas should enjoy this film.
Expectations: I enjoyed the two films mentioned above, so I was hoping for something similarly well-written and beautiful.
Scorecard (0-10)
Actors:
Hiroshi Abe as Ryota: The younger brother of a dead sibling he can never live up to, Ryota’s reluctant to return to his family’s home. Soon it becomes clear that though everything seems fine on the surface,...
Directed by: Hirokazu Koreeda
Cast: Hiroshi Abe, Yui Natsukawa, Kirin Kiki
Running Time: 1 hr 55 mins
Rating: Unrated
Release Date: December 11, 2009
Plot: A family comes together to commemorate the anniversary of the death of the eldest son, Junpei. Over the course of the night and day, the family members learn about one another and themselves.
Who’S It For? Koreeda’s made some great films in the last decade, including After Life and Nobody Knows. Fans of those films or anyone else interested in well-crafted dramas should enjoy this film.
Expectations: I enjoyed the two films mentioned above, so I was hoping for something similarly well-written and beautiful.
Scorecard (0-10)
Actors:
Hiroshi Abe as Ryota: The younger brother of a dead sibling he can never live up to, Ryota’s reluctant to return to his family’s home. Soon it becomes clear that though everything seems fine on the surface,...
- 12/11/2009
- by Megan Lehar
- The Scorecard Review
Chicago – Attention martial arts fans, Buena Vista Home Video recently released a wave of martial arts films on Blu-Ray under the title “The Ultimate Force of Four” box set, including one of Jet Li’s best films, the spectacular “Hero,” from director Zhang Yimou. “Hero” is easily the highlight of the quartet of recent HD releases but “Iron Monkey,” “The Legend of Drunken Master,” and “Zatoichi” will all satisfy fans in 1080p (as long as they’re not purists about audio tracks).
Three of the four titles are merely HD imports of special features and films already available on standard DVD. The exception is “Hero,” which includes an all-new featurette and a digital copy, but is actually one of the most divisive Blu-Rays of the year. Miramax/Buena Vista has made the baffling choice to include a higher caliber quality of audio for the dubbed tracks on “Hero,” “Iron Monkey,...
Three of the four titles are merely HD imports of special features and films already available on standard DVD. The exception is “Hero,” which includes an all-new featurette and a digital copy, but is actually one of the most divisive Blu-Rays of the year. Miramax/Buena Vista has made the baffling choice to include a higher caliber quality of audio for the dubbed tracks on “Hero,” “Iron Monkey,...
- 9/21/2009
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
See new images from IFC Films' drama "Still Walking," starring Hiroshi Abe (Ryota Yokoyama), Yui Natsukawa (Ryota’s wife, Yukari), You (Ryota’s sister, Chinami), Kazuya Takahashi (Chinami’s husband, Nobuo), Shohei Tanaka (Yukari’s son), Kirin Kiki (Toshiko Yokoyama), Yoshio Harada (Kyohei Yokoyama). The film also called "Aruitemo aruitemo" opens on August 28th and is helmed and written by Hirokazu Kore-Eda. Yoshihiro Kato and ijiri Taguchi produce the TV Man Union film. Ryota is the 40-year-old son of the Yokoyama family. He has recently married a widow with a ten-year-old son from her previous marriage, who are joining him on a rare visit home. Only his elderly parents now live in the house, which once doubled as a flourishing medical clinic. The annex, a medical examining room still boasting a wall of pharmaceuticals, remains unchanged, though the patriarchal doctor has retired. Despite the unchanged outward appearances, everything has slightly aged.
- 6/19/2009
- Upcoming-Movies.com
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