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FILMS:
Text supplied by Japanese Cultural Centre,
Sydney
Drama
LILY OF THE VALLEY - A GIRL NAMED MOE [PG]
2001/35mm/colour/102 mins
Director: Rintaro Mayuzumi
Producer:
Screenwriter: Yuuki Shimizu
Cast: Isao Hashizume, Rumi Hiiragi, Hiroyuki Ikeuchi, Hitomi Kuroki
In the winter of 1923, at a small railway station named Ashimoe (meaning "Budding tomorrow"), an abandoned newborn female baby was found. Stationmaster, Jiro Tokiwa made up his mind to raise the baby girl as his own daughter, believing that she was a reincarnation of his dead wife. The girl, named Moe, grew to age 12 soundly, surrounded by the warm affection of the stationmaster, as well as the people of Ashimoe. One day, Jiro received a mail parcel. The sender of the parcel was Fuki Kawamoto, Moe's mother, who had left her daughter when she was a baby. However, Jiro tried to hide the parcel…
Director Rintaro Mayuzumi graduated from the Japanese Literature of Gakushuin University. After graduating the university, he worked at the NHK (Japan Broadcasting Cooporation) and produced many dramas such as popular serial drama
Hideyoshi and Suzuran (Lilly of the Valley). In 1994, he directed the film,
Rampo.
Animation
PRINCESS MONONOKE [M]
1997/35mm/colour/131 mins
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Executive Producers: Masaya Nakamura, Nobuo Ikeguchi
Screenwriter: Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Music: Jo Hisaishi
Princess Mononoke is Hayao Miyazaki's one of most successful animations in Japan.
This cinematic masterpiece have had a new box office record in Japan since 1997 until his recent film "Spiritual Away (Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi)" was released in 2002.The film portrays the rising conflict between the ancient land of forests and gods and the emerging industry of modern civilisation in the Muromachi period (1392-1573) in Japan. Princess Mononoke, a human raised by wolves, lives like an outlaw, indiscriminately attacking humans in order to save the forest. Mononoke's nemesis is Lady Eboshi, who is building a kingdom for oppressed people by cutting down the forest. Caught in the ensuing fierce battle for survival is Ashitaka, a young boy who is marked for death. Whilst Mononoke deals with the destructive power of hate, it also displays Miyazaki's
tolerance, humanity and unerring belief in the unquenchable spirit of life.
Comedy
POSTMAN BLUES [yet to be classified]
1997/35mm/colour/110mins
Director: SABU
Producer: Ikki Katashima, Taro Maki, Akiko Odawara
Screenwriter: SABU
Cast: Shinichi Tsutsumi, Keiko Tohyama, Ren Osugi, Keisuke Horibe
It is an entertaining story told in a refined way about the adventures of the conscientious postman Sawaki. On his evening round, he visits Noguchi, who has just chopped off his little finger to be admitted to a Yakuza gang. The
pinkie rolls off the table into Sawaki mail bag. When Sawaki opens all the
mail that evening in a testy and drunken fit, he loses Noguchi's little finger. That is a problem because Noguchi's Yakuza boss wants the pinkie to prevent Noguchi getting it put back on later in secret. In the meantime, the police are keeping a close watch on Noguchi's house, so the postman changes from one day to the next into the main suspect in a murder and drugs case. This is but one of the many absurd storylines in the film.
Director Sabu started his career as singer and musician before becoming an actor. He made his debut with
D.A.N.G.A.N. Runner in 1996. Postman Blues is his second feature. Unlucky Monkey (1998),
Monday (2000), Drive (2002)
DETAILS:
All movies free of charge MELBOURNE (527 seats)
Tickets available at the cinema box office on the day from 6:15pm -
1 ticket issued per person.
Venue: Greater Union City Cinemas
131 Russell Street, Melbourne, VIC
Doors open: 6:15pm
7:00pm 10 October (Thu) Postman Blues
7:00pm 11 October (Fri) Princess Mononoke
7:00pm 12 October (Sat) Lily of the Valley
Contact: Japan Information and Culture Centre (JICC) on (03) 9639 3277 CANBERRA (297 seats)
Venue: National Library of Australia
Parkes Place, Canberra ACT
Doors open: 6:30pm
7:00pm 24 October (Thu) Lily of the Valley
7:00pm 25 October (Fri) Princess Mononoke
2:00pm 26 October (Sat) Postman Blues
Bookings are essential: contact Embassy of Japan on (02) 6272 7252 BRISBANE (400 seats)
Venue: Greater Union Hoyts Regent Cinema Queen Street Mall, Brisbane QLD
Doors open: 6:00pm (Fri & Mon), 1:00pm (Sun)
7:00pm 1 November (Fri) Lily of the Valley
2:00pm 3 November (Sun) Princess Mononoke
7:00pm 4 November (Mon) Postman Blues
Tickets are limited to 2 tickets per person, per film.
Tickets available for collection one hour before the film screening
Bookings: Sarina MacDonald,
Pacific Film and Television Commission on (07) 3007-3003
www.japan.org.au/brisbane PERTH (210 seats)
Admission will be on a first come first served basis.
Venue: Alexander Library
Francis Street Entrance, Perth WA
Doors open: 6:30pm
7:00pm 14 November (Thu) Lily of the Valley
7:00pm 15 November (Fri) Princess Mononoke
7:00pm 16 November (Sat) Postman Blues
Contact: Consulate General of Japan on (08) 9480-1800 SYDNEY (280 seats)
Tickets available at the cinema box office on the day from 5:00pm -
2 tickets issued per person.
Venue: Dendy Martin Place Cinema
19 Martin Place, Sydney NSW
Doors open: 15 min. before the starting time.
6:00pm 27 November (Wed) Princess Mononoke
8:30pm 27 November (Wed) Postman Blues
7:00pm 28 November (Thu) Princess Mononoke
7:00pm 29 November (Fri) Lily of the Valley
Contact: Japan Cultural Centre, Sydney on (02) 9954-0111
CREDITS:
Sponsored & organised by
Embassy of Japan
Consulate-General of Japan, Melbourne
Consulate-General of Japan, Brisbane
Consulate-General of Japan, Perth
Consulate-General of Japan, Sydney
Japan Cultural Centre, Sydney (The Japan Foundation)
Presented in Brisbane in association with
Pacific Film and Television Commission
Films are supplied by
Shochiku Co., Ltd. (Lilly of the Valley)
Buena Vista International (Princess Mononoke)
Nikkatsu Corporation (Postman Blues) |
