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Japanese film fest Eiga Sai 2015 opens with a ‘tasteful’ treat


The much-anticipated annual Japanese film festival Eiga Sai opened Thursday evening at the Edsa Shangri-La Mall in Mandaluyong City, with award-winning director Yuya Ishii flying in straight from Japan to grace the screening of his critically acclaimed film, "Our Family" (Bokutachi No Kazoku).

In his latest film, the 32-year-old Ishii affirms his excellence in drama-comedy with a positive depiction of a fight against illness by employing a unique comedic sense that offers a fresh perspective on a contemporary Japanese family.

The film traces the emotional journey of a four-member family that is falling apart—until the mother is diagnosed with brain tumor. Renowned actor Satoshi Tsumabuki gives a subtle and stirring performance as the responsible yet melancholic eldest son, Kosuke.

Ishii is also set to hold a “director's talk” at the Lopez Center Studio in Ateneo de Manila University on July 10 at 3:00 p.m. and at the Shang Cineplex Cinema 2 on July 11 at 4:30 p.m.

With the theme “Tasteful Japan”, this year's Eiga Sai will both be a cinematic and gastronomic feast as the films, all released in 2014, will feature the “flavourful culinary world of Japan,” according to Eiga Sai organizer Japan Foundation, Manila (JFM).

The 10 other films screening at Eiga Sai 2015 are:

Thermae Romae II (Terumae Romae II)

Directed by Hideki Takeuchi



A live action adaptation of a popular Japanese comic by Yamazaki Mari, Thermae Romae II (a sequel to Thermae Romae) flashes between bathhouses in ancient Rome and in contemporary Japan. Roman Empire bathhouse architect Lucius (played by Abe Hiroshi) travels in time to contemporary Japan whenever he’s stuck for new ideas. Lucius then finds himself wrapped up in a conflict that divides the Roman Empire.

Tada's Do-it-all House: Disconcerto (Mahoro Ekimae Kyosokyoku)

Directed by Tatsushi Omori

A live action adaptation of Miura Shion's Naoko Prize-winning novel “Mahoro Ekimae Kyousoukyoku,” this work is a follow up to Omori's first film, also based on the said novel. The story revolves around handyman duo Gyoten (Kengo Kora) and Tada (Ryuhei Matsuda). Tada, who runs a handyman shop on the outskirts of Tokyo, finds himself in the midst of conflict when Gyoten's former wife puts her young daughter in his care. Plus, the local gangster organization pushes him to investigate a mysterious cultish group selling vegetables.

A Tale of Samurai Cooking - A True Love Story (Bushi no kondate)

Directed by Yuzo Asahara

Head chef Funaki Dennai (Nishida Toshiyuki) laid the foundations for Kaga clan cuisine in the Edo Period. This heartwarming drama depicts the internal affairs of the Kaga clan from the perspective of a woman who marries Funaki’s son.

It features meals made according to the Funaki family’s recipe collection “Ryori Mugonsho” and recreates the workings of samurai family kitchens at the time. Maid Haru (Ueto Aya) is a talented cook but stubborn, which leads her to divorce her husband after a year. However, she is asked by Kaga clan “kitchen samurai” Dennai (Nishida Toshiyuki) to marry his son and heir Yasunobu (Kora Kengo), and works to remedy his lack of culinary skills.

Patisserie Coin de rue (Yougashiten Koandoru)

Directed by Yoshihiro Fukagawa



An emotional drama involving delicious desserts. Natsume (Aoi Yu) makes her way to a famous Tokyo patisserie to see her boyfriend, but is stunned to learn that he has already quit working there. Left without a place to stay, she attempts to become a live-in employee at the patisserie, but the cakes she makes are given an emphatic thumbs-down by the owner Yoriko (Toda Keiko) and critic Tomura (Eguchi Yosuke).

She begins to look at herself in a new light when she meets a legendary former patissier. The numerous, colorful western-style confections delightfully sweeten the screen.

Wa-shoku,Beyond Sushi (Wa-shoku dorim)

Directed by Junichi Suzuki

A Japanese and American collaboration, the documentary film “Wa-shoku, Beyond Sushi” tells the story of the men and women who dedicated their lives to make Wa-shoku (Japanese food) reach global acceptance and recognition.

Produced by United Television Broadcasting Systems and directed by award-winning director Suzuki Junichi, this documentary features the big names in Japanese cuisine, among them Matsuhisa Nobu, the chef and owner of Nobu restaurants; Uechi Katsuya, chef and owner of Katsu-ya group; Tyson Cole, chef and owner of Uchi restaurant; and legendary French chef Joel Robuchon. The film shows the past and the future of Wa-Shoku and how they maintained the essential traditional qualities of Japanese food.

The God of Ramen (Ramen yori taisetsuna mono)

Directed by: Takashi Innami

This documentary film features the life of the late Yamagishi Kazuo, owner of the popular and one of the oldest ramen houses in Japan, Taishoken.

It traces the success of Taishoken which, according to those who frequent this ramen house, was mainly due to the charisma of its owner Kazuo, who passed away just in April of this year.

It's a Beautiful Life (Jinsei Irodori)

Directed by Osamu Minorikawa

Based on a true story, this films tells the success of three elderly women, friends from childhood in a depopulated and greying mountainous area in Tokushima Prefecture, daring to start up a food garnish business in their senior years.

The film interweaves profound human drama, including conflicts with family members, in the stories of hardship as they embark on their new enterprise. Eda (Hiraoka Yuta), who works for the local agricultural cooperative in a small town in Tokushima Prefecture, hatches the idea of selling roadside leaves and plants as garnish.

Princess Jellyfish (Kuragehime)

Directed by Taisuke Kawamura



A live adaptation of the comic of the same title, this film is a unique portrayal of nerdy girls. Geeky Tsukimi (Nounen Rena), who has an obsession with jellyfish, shares an apartment with other girls (who each has her own obsession). One day, the girls are thrown into a tizzy by the appearance of beautiful cross-dresser Kuranosuke (Suda Masaki) and his brother Shu (Hasegawa Hiroki).

Wood Job (Kamusari naa naa nichijo)

Directed by Shinobu Yaguchi

A coming-of-age story based on the best -selling novel “Kamusari naa naa Nichijo” by popular author Miura Shion.

Director Yaguchi Shinobu, whose hit films include “Waterboys,” delivers another film replete with laughter and drama as city-bred Hirano Yuki (Sometani Shota) decides on a whim to take up forestry work in the mountain village of Kamusari. Yuki nearly buckles under the tough work conditions, but he wakes up to the allure of nature and the locals, and gradually grows up.

Parasyte (Kiseiju)

Directed by Takashi Yamazaki

A live adaptation of a popular manga series, Parasyte features lavish special effects in a thrilling and humor-laced depiction of the battle between humans and “parasytes.

Humans are threatened with extinction due to these mysterious “parasytes,” which live off human bodies. When the right hand of high school student Shinichi (Sometani Shota) gets taken over, he nicknames the parasite “Righty” (voice: Abe Sadawo) and develops an unusual friendship.

All the films come with English subtitles. Screening venues are at the Shang Cineplex Cinema 2 (July 9 to 19), FDCP Cinematheque, Davao (July 14 to 19), Abreeza Mall Cinema, Davao (July 24 to 26), UP Film Institute in Diliman, Quezon City (August 12 to 15) and Ayala Center Cinema 4, Cebu City (August 19 to 23). — Elizabeth Marcelo/BM, GMA News

For detailed screening schedules and inquiries, visit the Japan Foundation, Manila website or call (02) 811-6155 to 58.
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