Sunday, June 28, 2015

Japanese cuisine themed films at the Eiga Sai 2015


July 10-19, 2015
Shang Cineplex (Cinema 2), Shangri-La Plaza
Mandaluyong

With the rising popularity of Ramen houses and other Japanese cuisine establishments in the Philippines, it’s not surprising that Eiga Sai, The Japanese Film Festival 2015 will have the theme Tasteful Japan as films featuring Japanese cuisine gets screened starting this July 10, 2015 at the Shang Cineplex of the Shangri-La Plaza Mall.

The films centering on food include Tale of Samurai Cooking - A True Love Story, PATISSERIE Coin de rue, The God of Ramen, WA-SHOKU ~Beyond Sushi~, and It’s a Beautiful Life ~IRODORI~. The festival will also feature contemporary Japanese films like Parasyte, Wood Job!, Thermae Romae II, Tada’s Do-It-All House: Disconcerto, and Princess Jellyfish.

The festival opens with the film Our Family, and the film’s director Yuya Ishii will be the guest of honor come opening night. Comprising the educational component of the festival, Ishii will have a director’s talk on July 10, 2015, 3:00 PM at the Lopez Center Studio, Ateneo de Manila University and on July 11, 2015, 4:30 PM at the Shang Cineplex Cinema 2.

Director Yuya Ishii
©2013 “Our Family” Production Committee

As always, after the Manila leg at the Shangri-La Plaza, the festival will tour to Davao on July 14-19, 2015 at the FDCP Cinematheque, and July 24-26 at the Abreeza Mall. The screenings return to Metro Manila on Augurt 12-15, 2015 at UP Film Institute. Finally, the festival wraps with screenings at the Ayala Center in Cebu on August 19-23, 2015.

Parasyte/寄生獣

© 2014 "Parasyte" Film Partners. All Rights Reserved.

During the press conference of the Eiga Sai held at the Shang Cineplex, the film Parasyte/寄生獣 was screened. The film, directed by Takashi Yamazaki, is the live adaptation of the science fiction horror manga series by Hitoshi Iwaaki.

In the film, strange, insect like creatures (or the parasites) take over human beings, specifically their brains, eventually taking over them. These infected humans need to devour other humans beings, and in a gruesome manner at that, for sustenance. Unfortunately, one such parasite was unable to take over Shinichi Izumi, played by Shota Sometani, only gaining control of the teenager’s right hand. This right hand, usually morphing into a strange alien like creature consequently named Migi, formed an unusual relationship with his host. Together, they try to stop the gruesome murders brought upon by the infected humans’ need to survive.

Being an avid reader of various manga series, the film really felt as if various volumes of the manga were crammed to fit into an hour and a half film. The plot moved in such a rapid pace that characterization and the exploration of relationships weren’t fully realized. So that during vital points in the film, the resulting outcomes failed to have some weight and bearing once I got over the shock. But still, Parasyte, is an exciting ride that kept me at the edge of my seat. With each new character/subplot revealed, stakes were raised and things became more urgent. The film eventually ends in a major cliffhanger that I bet would made people want the sequel to be shown in next year’s festival.

Here is the screening schedule of Eiga Sai 2015 at Cinema 2 of the Shang Cineplex:

July 10, 2015
1:30 PM Princess Jellyfish
4:30 PM Wood Job!
7:30 PM A Tale of Samurai Cooking - A True Love Story

July 11, 2015
1:30 PM PATISSERIE Coin de rue
4:30 PM Our Family
7:30 PM Tada’s Do-It-All House: Disconcerto

July 12, 2015
1:30 PM Thermae Romae II
4:30 PM A Tale of Samurai Cooking - A True Love Story
7:30 PM Wood Job!

July 13, 2015
1:30 PM WA-SHOKU ~Beyond Sushi~
4:30 PM Tada’s Do-It-All House: Disconcerto
7:30 PM Thermae Romae II

July 14, 2015
1:30 PM Wood Job!
4:30 PM WA-SHOKU ~Beyond Sushi~
7:30 PM The God of Ramen

July 15, 2015
1:30 PM Tada’s Do-It-All House: Disconcerto
4:30 PM Princess Jellyfish
7:30 PM Our Family

July 16, 2015
1:30 PM It’s a Beautiful Life ~IRODORI~
4:30 PM PATISSERIE Coin de rue
7:30 PM WA-SHOKU ~Beyond Sushi~

July 17, 2015
1:30 PM Thermae Romae II
4:30 PM It’s a Beautiful Life ~IRODORI~
7:30 PM Princess Jellyfish

July 18, 2015
1:30 PM Wood Job!
4:30 PM A Tale of Samurai Cooking - A True Love Story
7:30 PM Parasyte

July 19, 2015
1:30 PM The God of Ramen
4:30 PM PATISSERIE Coin de rue
7:30 PM Tada’s Do-It-All House: Disconcerto

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

July 14-19, 2015
FDCP Cinematheque,
Davao City

July 24-26, 2015
Abreeza Mall,
Davao City

August 12-15, 2015
UP Film Institute
Quezon City

August 19-23, 2015
Ayala Center Cebu,
Cebu City

Eiga Sai, The Japanese Film Festival 2015, kicking off the Philippines-Japan Friendship Month celebrations is presented by the Japan Foundation, Manila, in cooperation with the Embassy of Japan, Tokyo International Film Festival, Shangri-La Plaza Mall, UP Film Institute and the Film Development Council of the Philippines.

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

For inquiries:
Japan Foundation, Manila 811-6155 to 58
Shangri-La Plaza 370-2597

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