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Who's Camus anyway?
Tue 30.05 / 20:00 / Melkweg / Amsterdam
Thu 01.06 / 19:30 / Lantaren-Venster / Rotterdam
![Who is Camus anyway? [Movie still]](media/films01_01.jpg)
Op een kunstacademie ergens in Japan zien we een groep studenten vijf dagen voor het schieten van hun film die losjes gebaseerd is op het boek 'l'Étranger' van Albert Camus. Het lijkt alsof het maken van de film te veel vraagt van de studenten.
'Who is Camus Anyway?' begint als een luchtige film, maar de spanning neemt toe naarmate het verhaal vordert en de toon wordt zwaarder. Het eindigt uiteindelijk met een adembenemende finale.
At an art school somewhere in Japan, we find a group of students five days before the shooting of their film that echoes the essence of Albert Camus' book 'l'Étranger'. It seems that the preparations demand too much from the students.
'Who's Camus Anyway?' starts with a light tone, but as the story continues, the tension increases and the atmosphere of the film becomes more serious and heavy by the minute, ending in a breathtaking finale.
KAMYU NANTE SHIRANAI, Dutch première
Japan 2005, 35mm, 115 Min, English subtitles
Director & Script: YANAGIMACHI Mitsuo
Production: Gunro
Producer: SHIMIZU Kazuo
Director of Photography: FUJISAWA Junichi
Music: SHIMIZU Yasuaki
Distribution: Goldview
YANAGIMACHI Mitsuo Born in 1945, an award-winning writer and film director. After studying law he worked on different educational films and documentaries. In 1974, he founded the production company Gunro where he directed his first film, a documentary about motorbike gangs in Japan. He had his breakthrough with the feature film 'Himatsuri'.
Filmography (selection):
1985: Himatsuri
1976: Godspeed You! Black Emperor
Hallucination
Tue 30.05 / 22:00 / Melkweg / Amsterdam
Thu 01.06 / 22:15 / Lantaren-Venster / Rotterdam
Sat 03.06 / 20:00 / Filmhuis Den Haag
![Hallucination [Movie still]](media/films01_02.jpg)
Hallucination is een kruising tussen een horror en een keiharde yakuzafilm. Een aantal gangsters moeten het liefje van de baas bewaken in een afgelegen huis waar ze achtervolgd worden door hun duistere verleden. Geschoten op video, draagt deze low-budget film een drukkende panieksfeer waarbij fictie en realiteit vertekend worden door drugs, argwaan en angst. Met een cameo van TAKEUCHI Riki (o.a. 'Dead or Alive' trilogie, 'Deadly Outlaw Rekka').
Hallucination is a mix between a ghost story and a hard boiled yakuza film. A group of gangsters are ordered to take care of the boss' mistress in a secluded cabin in a forest haunted by the ghosts of their past. Shot on video, this low budget movie conveys a frantic and oppressive mood where fiction and reality are distorted by drugs, suspicion and fear. With a cameo of TAKEUCHI Riki ('Dead or Alive' trilogy, 'Deadly Outlaw Rekka').
GENKAKU, Dutch première
Japan 2004, DV, 97 Min, English subtitles
Director: MIYASAKA Takeshi
Script: KOTANI Nobuaki, TOMOMATSU Naoyuki
Producer: TAKEUCHI Riki
Director of Photography: TOMITA Shinji
Music: NOJIMA Kentaro
Distribution: RIKI Productions
MIYASAKA Takeshi Born in Tokyo in 1965, MIYASAKA Takeshi planted his flag as filmmaker with an 8mm film called 'Garyu' while in film school. He went on to make a number of low-budget B-movie series, including the clever comedy 'Daikaijuu Tokyo ni Arawaru' and numerous yakuza-related movies (frequently with TAKEUCHI Riki).
Filmography (selection):
2004: Shikei Kakutei
2003: Shin Kage no Gundan
1998: Daikaiju Tokyo ni arawaru
1996: Tokyo Mafia: Battle for Shinjuku
Chicken Heart
Sat 03.06 / 19:00 / Lantaren-Venster / Rotterdam
With an introduction by Dr. Margarita WINKEL, teacher at Leiden University and co-author of 'Japanese Erotic Fantasies: Sexual Imagery of the Edo Period'.
![Chicken Heart [Movie still]](media/films01_03.jpg)
Drie mannen lukt het maar niet hun leven op orde te krijgen. Iwano, de 'human punch bag', Maru, die toupetjes aan de man probeert te brengen, en Sata (gespeeld door rockster IMAWANO Kiyoshiro) die de wereld rond wil varen. Alle drie zijn lafaards. Ze lijken niet in staat hun leven te veranderen en je vraagt je af of ze dit wel willen. Terwijl ze hun leven op orde proberen te krijgen belanden ze in grappige, rare en ook pijnlijke situaties.
Met een cameo van sterfotograaf ARAKI Nobuyoshi.
Three men just cannot seem to get their lives on track: Iwano, the 'human punch bag'; Maru, trying to sell hairpieces on the street and Sata (played by rock star IMAWANO Kiyoshiro), who wants to sail around the world. All of them are chicken-hearted; they don't seem to be willing, or able, to change their lives. Whilst trying to find their way in life, they always end up in comical, weird, and painful situations.
With a cameo of star photographer ARAKI Nobuyoshi.
Dutch première
Japan 2002, 35 mm, 105 Min, English subtitles
Director & Script: SHIMIZU Hiroshi
Production: Office KITANO
Producer: MORI Masayuki, YOSHIDA Takio
Director of Photography: HIROSHI Takase
Music: SUZUKI Keiichi
Distribution: Celluloid Dreams
SHIMIZU Hiroshi Born in 1964 and a graduate of the film school in Yokohama. He worked as assistant director with the Central Arts production company. In 1996, he joined the team of KITANO Takeshi and became his assistant on among others 'Sonatine' and 'Hana-Bi'.
Filmography:
1998: Ikinai (Not to live)
DV (Domestic Violence)
Sun 28.05 / 22:30 / Melkweg / Amsterdam
Sun 04.06 / 23:00 / Lantaren-Venster / Rotterdam
Tue 06.06 / 20:00 / Filmhuis Den Haag
![DV (Domestic Violence) [Movie still]](media/films01_04.jpg)
Shougo dwingt zijn jonge vrouw Yasuko haar baan op te geven en thuis te blijven. Dit is slechts het begin van een vicieuze cirkel. Yasuko realiseert zich al snel dat zij alleen zichzelf kan helpen, maar hoe? Aangrijpend en schokkend relaas over huiselijk geweld.
Shougo forces his young wife Yasuko to quit her job and stay at home. This is just the beginning of a descent into hell for Yasuko, who gets caught up in a downward spiral from which an escape seems impossible. Soon she realises that she is the only who can help herself, but how?
DV: DOMESUTIKKU BAIORENSU, Dutch première
Japan 2004, Video, 85 Min, English subtitles
Director: NAKAHARA Shun
Script: NAGAMORI Yuji, OZAWA Kazuyoshi
Director of Photography: SHIMOMOTO Satoshi
Music: KOMIYAMA Sei
Distribution: Bio-Tide
NAKAHARA Shun Born 1951 in Kagoshima, he began his career as a director at the production firm Nikkatsu in 1976. He changed to freelancing after 9 years and founded his own company 'Bonobo Co. Ltd.' in 1994.
Filmography (selection):
2005: Ichigo Chips (Ichigo no kakera)
2002: Tomie: The Final Chapter (Tomie: Saishuu-shô)
2000: Colourful
1997: Lie Lie Lie
1990: The Cherry Orchard (Sakura no sono)
Drive
Wed 31.05 / 20:00 / Melkweg / Amsterdam
Fri 02.06 / 20:00 / Lantaren-Venster / Rotterdam
Mon 05.06 / 17:15 / Lantaren-Venster / Rotterdam
Wed 07.06 / 20:00 / Filmhuis Den Haag
Friday 02.06 with an introduction by Dr. Margarita WINKEL, teacher at Leiden University and co-author of 'Japanese Erotic Fantasies: Sexual Imagery of the Edo Period'.
![Drive [Movie still]](media/films01_05.jpg)
Een zakenman wordt samen met zijn auto gekidnapt door drie bankovervallers wiens leider er vandoor is gegaan met de buit. Dit is het begin van een reeks bizarre gebeurtenissen, maar geleidelijk aan wordt de toon van de film serieuzer. SABU gebruikt met zijn eigen stijl veel figuren uit de Japanse geestenwereld die de slechten straffen en de goeden belonen.
A businessman is carjacked by three bank robbers whilst the gang leader escapes with the loot. A string of comical events ensues, which turn more serious as the movie progresses. Using many characters from the Japanese spirit world, SABU depicts in his unique style a world that punishes those driven by greed and rewards the pure of heart.
Dutch première
Japan 2002, 35 mm, 102 Min, English subtitles
Director & Script: SABU
Production: IMJ Entertainment, Kobi Co. Ltd., Mainichi Broadcasting System (MBS) K.K., Nippon Herald Films; Pioneer LDC; Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS), Tokyo FM; Broadcasting Co. Ltd.
Director of Photography: SATO Kazuhito
Music: BANDO Toshihide, MURASE Yasuhisa
Distribution: Open Sesame
SABU Born as TANAKA Hiroyuki in 1964. He began his career acting in films (appearing in among others MIIKE Takashi's 'Ichi the killer'), and made his directorial debut with 'Dangan ranna' in 1996. SABU gained worldwide recognition with films like 'Postman Blues' and 'Unlucky Monkey'.
Filmography (selection):
2005: Shisso
2003: Hard Luck Hero
2000: Monday
1997: Posutoman burusu (Postman Blues)
HAZE (Original Long Version)
Fri 26.05 / 22:00 / Melkweg / Amsterdam
Fri 02.06 / 21:45 / Lantaren-Venster / Rotterdam (together with Open Art)
With an introduction by Tom Mes, author of 'Agitator: the Cinema of Takashi Miike' ,’Iron Man: the Cinema of Shinya Tsukamoto' and runs the renown Midnight Eye website (Rotterdam only).
![HAZE (Original Long Version) [Movie still]](media/films01_06.jpg)
Een man wordt wakker in een kleine, betonnen ruimte waarin hij zich nauwelijks kan bewegen. Hij heeft een ernstige verwonding aan zijn maag en herinnert zich niets meer. Wie is hij? Waarom is hij daar? Terwijl hij op onderzoek gaat in deze gruwelijke gevangenis komen er flarden herinneringen terug. In een kamer doordrongen met de stank van lijken in staat van ontbinding vindt hij een vrouw. Samen proberen ze uit het betonnen doolhof te komen. Deze verstikkende film met indrukwekkende muziek zul je niet snel vergeten!
A man wakes up in a small, concrete space, where he can barely move. He has a bad stomach injury and he can't remember anything. Who is he? Why is he there? While exploring his horrible prison, images of the past return. In a room filled with the rotten smell of corpses he meets a woman. Together they try to find a way out. This asphyxiating film, accompanied with impressive music is one you won't forget easily!
Dutch première
Japan 2005, DV, 49 Min, English subtitles
Director & Script: TSUKAMOTO Shinya
Production: Gold view Company Ltd.
Director of Photography: TAKAYUKI Shida
Music: CHU Ishikawa
Distribution: Gold view Company Ltd.
TSUKAMOTO Shinya Born in 1960 in Tokyo, TSUKAMOTO was given a Super-8 camera at the age of 14 and his interest in film making started immediately. He often works as an actor, designer, cinematographer, and producer, earning worldwide recognition as one of Japan's most extreme cult-directors.
Filmography (selection):
2004: Vital
2002: A Snake of June
1998: Bullet Ballet
1995: Tokyo Fist
1991: Tetsuo - The Body Hammer
1989: Tetsuo - The Iron Man
Casshern
Mon 05.06 / 19:30 / Lantaren-Venster / Rotterdam (Movie Zone)
Tue 06.06 / 19:30 / Lantaren-Venster / Rotterdam (Movie Zone)
![Casshern [Movie still]](media/films01_07.jpg)
Gebaseerd op een Japanse animatieserie uit de jaren zeventig en William Shakespear's Hamlet. In een postapocalyptische wereld breekt een gemuteerde groep mensen los en bedreigt de mensheid. Alleen Casshern, die ook over bovenmenselijke krachten beschikt, kan de wereld redden. De film zal niet bekend worden om zijn complex plot, al is het alleen maar omdat je bijna geen tijd hebt om daar op te letten. Als je de stijl van een manga vermengt met videoclips, weet je wat je kunt verwachten.
Film als visuele kunst in een postapocalyptisch jasje. Casshern, met bovenmenselijke krachten, kan het leger gemuteerde mensen tegenhouden. Daarnaast zitten er ook filosofische discussies over de oorlog verwerkt in deze film.
Casshern is loosely based on a Japanese seventies anime series and Shakespear's Hamlet. Casshern is the only one who can defend mankind when the mutated Neohumans break loose in a post-apocalyptic world. The plot is very intricate, but you don't have time to worry about that. The action alternates with philosophical questions about war. Imagine a combination of a manga and a music video and you come pretty close to this movie. A piece of visual art set in a post apocalyptic setting.
Japan 2004, 35mm, 141 Min, English subtitles
Director & Script: KIRIYA Kazuaki
Production: MIYAJIMA Hideji
Producers: MIYAJIMA Hideji, OZAWA Toshiharu, WAKABAYASHI Toshiaki
Director of Photography: KIRIYA Kazuaki
Music: SAGISU Shirô, TOMIIE Satoshi
Distribution: Bright Angel Distribution
KIRIYA Kazuaki Born in 1968 KIRIYA graduated under his real name IWASHITA Kazuhiro as a photographer and a movie director. Being the husband of pop megastar UTADA Hikaru he has directed several of her music videos. He is known for his unique style, which brings together breathtaking aesthetics and deep, complex storylines. Many of his works have a science fiction theme to them. CASSHERN is KIRIYA's first feature film.
[is A.]
Sat 27.05 / 20:00 / Melkweg / Amsterdam
Fri 02.06 / 20:00 / Filmhuis Den Haag
Mon 05.06 / 22:00 / Lantaren-Venster / Rotterdam
![[is A.] [Movie still]](media/films01_08.jpg)
Is de mens van nature slecht? Kan een tiener die een zware misdaad heeft begaan ooit weer deel worden van de maatschappij? In zijn debuut als regisseur, focust FUJIWARA op thema's zoals jeugdcriminaliteit, schuldgevoel en wraak. Deze film volgt en doet stapsgewijs uit de doeken de relaties tussen een politieagent, een jonge terrorist en zijn vader die alledrie moeite hebben te communiceren met elkaar.
Is man evil by nature? Can a teenager who commits a serious crime ever be reintegrated back into society without being a danger to others? In his debut film, FUJIWARA focuses on themes such as juvenile crime, parental guilt and revenge. This urban drama unwinds step-by-step, following the triangular relationship between a policeman in grief, a young terrorist, and his father. All of whom have difficulties communicating with each other.
Dutch première
Japan 2005, 35mm, 108 Min, English subtitles
Director: FUJIWARA Kenichi
Script: FUJIWARA Kenichi, EZURA Taka-aki
Production: Film Works Movie King
Producers: NISHI Kenjiro, TERANISHI Masami
Director of Photography: NABESHIMA Atsuhiro
Music: TAKEICHI Hideo
Distribution: Open Sesame
FUJIWARA Kenichi Born in 1969. After serving as assistant director, and producer, on several films, he made his directoral debut with [is A.]
Cream Lemon
Fri 26.05 / 20:00 / Melkweg / Amsterdam
Thu 01.06 / 20:00 / Filmhuis Den Haag
Mon 05.06 / 17:00 / Lantaren-Venster / Rotterdam
![Cream Lemon [Movie still]](media/films01_09.jpg)
Een romantisch drama over een stiefbroer en zus in het huis van hun ouders. Hun gevoelens voor elkaar lijken wel eens teveel te zijn dan wat voor de maatschappelijke norm door de beugel kan. Cream Lemon is gebaseerd op de gelijknamige anime in het hentai genre.
A romantic drama about a stepbrother and sister living together with their parents. Their feelings for each other might be a little too much for society (and them) to handle. Another gemstone from one of Japan's most promising and subtle, young filmmakers. Cream Lemon is based on the same-named anime of the Hentai genre.
KURIMU REMON, Dutch première
Japan 2004, DV, 78 Min, English subtitles
Director: YAMASHITA Nobuhiro
Script: MUKAI Kôsuke, NAGAMORI Yûji
Production: Kurimu remon seisaku iinkai
Producer: NAGAMORI Yuji
Director of Photography: KONDO Ryuto
Music: Akainu
Distribution: Bio-Tide
YAMASHITA Nobuhiro Born in 1976. He studied at the art school in Osaka. As his graduation project, he founded the production company Midnight Child Theatre, with four other students, of which their first project was Hazy Life. His features have been screened at various international film festivals and he is also a regular at Rotterdam's IFFR.
Filmography (selection):
2005: Linda Linda Linda
2003: No One's Ark (Baka no hakobune)
1999: Hazy Life
Deserted Dogs
Thu 25.05 / 22:00 / Melkweg / Amsterdam
![Deserted Dogs [Movie still]](media/films01_10.jpg)
In deze keiharde yakuzafilm vervaagt het onderscheid tussen goed en kwaad en is vaak niet duidelijk waar iemands loyaliteit ligt. De link tussen Reservoir Dogs en Infernal Affairs is hierdoor snel gelegd maar de gevoelens van wantrouwen en achterdocht zijn in Deserted Dogs nog prominenter aanwezig. Desondanks laten de gangsters zich hierdoor niet gek maken en weten overal een passend antwoord op te vinden. Met in de hoofdrol TAKEUCHI Riki ('Dead or Alive' trilogie, 'Battle Royale 2') en Endo Kenichi ('Azumi', 'The Great Yokai War').
In this hard-boiled yakuza film, the boundaries between good and evil are blurred and it is not clear where one's loyalty lie. Similarities can easily be drawn with Reservoir Dogs and Infernal Affairs, however in Deserted Dogs feelings of distrust and suspicion are more overtly present. These gangsters don't let this get to them though and manage to find a suitable solution for every tricky situation they find themselves in. Starring TAKEUCHI Riki ('Dead or Alive' trilogy, 'Battle Royale 2') and ENDO Kenichi ('Azumi', 'The Great Yokai War') in the leading roles.
SUTEINU, European première
Japan 2005, DV, 102 Min, English subtitles
Director: ASAO Masahiro
Script: KOTANI Chosuke
Production: MOTOJIMA Akio, ISHIDA Seiko
Director of Photography: TOMITA Shinji
Music: NOJIMA Kentaro
Distribution: RIKI Project
ASAO Masahiro He worked on many films as a specialist in gun effects. 'Deserted Dogs' is his debut film.