Eiga Sai 2013 kicks off Philippines-Japan Friendship Month

July 4-14, 2013

Shang Cineplex (Cinema 2), Shangri-La Plaza

Mandaluyong

It is time once again for the popular and much awaited Eiga Sai 2013, the Japanese Film festival that kicks off the festivities of the Philippines-Japan Friendship month. This also marks the resumption of the events in line with the celebration of the 40^th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation. The Eiga Sai 2013 happens on July 4-14, 2013 at the Cinema 2 of the Shang Cineplex. This film event is presented by the Japan Foundation, Manila, the Embassy of Japan, Shangri-La Plaza, and the Film Development Council of the Philippines.

An invitational screening of About Her Brother starts the film festival. After that, from July 4 up to July 14, 2013, the Eiga Sai 2013 will have its public screenings which are free of charge on a first-come, first served basis. Tickets will be handed out 30 minutes before the screening time of each film.

©2005 NTV/Robot/Shogakukan/Vap/Toho/Dentsu
YTV/The Yomiuri Shimbun/Shirogumi/Imagica

Among the films to look out for this year are the three installments of the popular comedy drama Always - Sunset on Third Street directed by Takashi Yamazaki. The previous two films were part of previous editions of the Eiga Sai while the third part will be screened at the festival for the first time. The film series gives a nostalgic portrait of post war Japan, featuring the lives of the residents of a fictional community somewhere in Tokyo. The charming and likeable characters in the film bring out the laughs but also prepare tissues for tears are bound to fall in the dramatic moments of the film. Always - Sunset on Third Street 3 was shown during the recent press conference and it wrapped up and resolved in a bittersweet manner the arcs of several key characters. While this third film can be enjoyed on its own, viewers can truly appreciate the growth of all the main characters if they see the previous two films first. And Eiga Sai 2013 does just that by offering the first two films once again.

©2007 “Always2” Film Partners

ALWAYS 三丁目の夕日'64/Always - Sunset on Third Street 3

©2012 “Always3” Film Partners

In the whole series, I liked the story arc between the eccentric writer Chagawa Ryunosuke (Hidetaka Yoshioka) and Junnosuke (Kenta Suga), the abandoned boy left to his care the best. Their relationship from its rough beginnings up to the development which comes to its resolution towards the end of the third film, I think, is the central story of the whole series. The themes of abandonment and eventually finding one's place resonated clearly between these two central characters. And I believe that most tears will be shed in tender moments between these two. The other stories featuring Chagawa’s neighbor across the street, the Suzukis who owns a car repair shop, with the fiery patriarch Norifumi (Shinichi Tsutsumi), very patient wife Tomoe (Hiroko Yakushimaru), mischievous son Ippei (Kazuki Koshimizu) are also delightful especially when they take in Mutsuko aka Roku (Maki Horikita) as their stay in employee. Their story also parallel that of Chagawa with Roku being the additional member of the Suzuki family. Many film enthusiasts may also recognize Koyuki, the actress portraying Hiromi, from her role in the Hollywood film The Last Samurai.

When watching the film, I easily forgot that while the films are set in Japan during the late 1950’s and early 1960’s, they were shot only during the last decade in modern day Tokyo. I can’t begin to imagine how the set design and special effects team were able to recreate the buildings, streets and landmarks of that bygone era. I also learned that the film was based on a manga series called, San-chome no Yuhi by Ryohei Saigan. Watching the films really sparked my interest to see the original source material, but alas, I couldn’t find much more about the manga on the web.

Other films to look out for in this year are Confessions, Rinco’s Restaurant, Dear Doctor, Kamui, Castle Under Fiery Skies and Parade. Animated films to be shown this year are Mai Mai Miracle and Japan, Our Homeland. All films will be shown with English subtitles.

Here is the screening schedule of Eiga Sai 2013 at Cinema 2 of the Shang Cineplex:

July 4, 2013

1:30 PM Always - Sunset on Third Street

4:30 PM Castle Under Fiery Skies

7:30 PM Confessions

July 5, 2013

1:30 PM Always - Sunset on Third Street 2

4:30 PM Rinco’s Restaurant

7:30 PM Parade

July 6, 2013

1:30 PM Mai Mai Miracle

4:30 PM Always - Sunset on Third Street 3

7:30 PM About Her Brother

July 7, 2013

1:30 PM Japan, Our Homeland

4:30 PM Dear Doctor

7:30 PM Rinco’s Restuarant

July 8, 2013

1:30 PM Castle Under Fiery Skies

4:30 PM Confessions

7:30 PM Kamui

July 9, 2013

1:30 PM Mai Mai Miracle

4:30 PM Always - Sunset on Third Street

7:30 PM Parade

July 10, 2013

1:30 PM Japan, Our Homeland

4:30 PM About Her Brother

7:30 PM Always - Sunset on Third Street 2

July 11, 2013

1:30 PM Always - Sunset on Third Street 3

4:30 PM Rinco’s Restuarant

7:30 PM Confessions

July 12, 2013

1:30 PM Castle Under Fiery Skies

4:30 PM Parade

7:30 PM Dear Doctor

July 13, 2013

1:30 PM Mai Mai Miracle

4:30 PM Always - Sunset on Third Street 2

7:30 PM Kamui

July 14, 2013

1:30 PM Always - Sunset on Third Street

4:30 PM Rinco’s Restuarant

7:30 PM Always - Sunset on Third Street 3

After the Shangri-La Plaza leg, the film festival continues at these venues:

July 19-28, 2013

FDCP Cinemateque

Davao City

August 7-11, 2013

Ayala Center

Cebu

August 19-25, 2013

UPFI, University of the Philippines

Diliman, Quezon City

Tickets:

Free admission. First-come, first-served basis.

For inquiries:

Japan Foundation, Manila 811-6155 to 58

Shangri-La Plaza 370-2597, 370-2598