Wednesday, January 25, 2023

Japanese Film Festival 2023: Belle, a modern take on Beauty and the Beast in a virtual world

JFM Director Ben Suzuki, Japanese Embassy Minister
and DCM Kenichi Matsuda,
and Shangri-La Plaza Head of Operations Johnny Rios

After two online editions, the Japanese Film Festival 2023 finally made its comeback to cinemas last January 20, 2023 at the Shangri-La Plaza Mall.

Japan Foundation, Manila Director Ben Suzuki

The Japan Foundation, Manila pulled out all the stops at the opening cocktail reception at the Shang's Grand Atrium with the JFM Director Ben Suzuki, the Japanese Embassy's Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission Kenichi Matsuda, FDCP Chairperson and CEO Tirso Cruz III, Ozeki Corporation Asean Sales Representative Yukimura Sato, and Shangri-La Plaza Head of Operations Johnny Rios gracing the event and delivering welcome remarks.

Sayaw Hapon Sakura

A Nihon Buyo performance by Sayaw Hapon Sakura provided some entertainment for the guests as well as the mall goers. The opening reception was then followed by the screening of the opening film, Hosoda Mamoru's Belle (竜とそばかすの姫).

Show Suzuki

Belle/竜とそばかすの姫


This animated feature that debuted at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival is a modern take on the fairy tale Beauty and the Beast.

The film is about Suzu, a shy teenager who has been living inside her shell ever since her mother's tragic death when she was just six years old. In order to cope with her grief and upon the urging of her best friend, she signs up for "U", a popular virtual world.

Suzu's online alter ego is Belle, who becomes a massively popular singer in the online world. When one of Belle's concerts gets interrupted by a mysterious Beast, Suzu sets out on a quest to find out who the Beast really is. But in order to uncover his identity, she also needs to uncover her own.

Visually stunning, Belle is a movie for the online generation, heightened further by the pandemic when lockdowns made online interactions the norm. It also underlines the importance of letting emotions out in the open especially in the real world.

Yojiro Tanaka, Kenichi Matsuda, Johnny Rios, Tirso Cruz III, Ben Suzuki,
Yukimura Sato, and Show Suzuki

The Japanese Film Festival 2023 runs until February 3, 2023 at the Red Carpet Shangri-La Mall.


Here is the schedule of screenings at select SM Cinemas this January 27-31, 2023.

SM City Baguio

January 27, 2023
1:00 PM Blue
4:00 PM And So the Baton is Passed
7:00 PM Belle
9:00 PM Inu-Oh

January 28, 2023
1:00 PM In the Wake
4:00 PM Intolerance
7:00 PM Blue Thermal
9:00 PM Belle

January 29, 2023
1:00 PM Belle
4:00 PM Anime Supremacy!
7:00 PM Blue
9:00 PM And So the Baton is Passed

January 30, 2023
1:00 PM Inu-Oh
4:00 PM Belle
7:00 PM In the Wake
9:00 PM Intolerance

January 31, 2023
1:00 PM Blue Thermal
4:00 PM Anime Supremacy!
7:00 PM Blue
9:00 PM And So the Baton is Passed

SM Seaside Cebu

January 27, 2023
1:00 PM Every Day a Good Day
4:00 PM Intolerance
7:00 PM Belle
9:00 PM Blue

January 28, 2023
1:00 PM Lesson in Murder
4:00 PM Every Day a Good Day
7:00 PM Anime Supremacy!
9:00 PM Belle

January 29, 2023
1:00 PM Blue Thermal
4:00 PM Belle
7:00 PM And So the Baton is Passed
9:00 PM In the Wake

January 30, 2023
1:00 PM Inu-Oh
4:00 PM Intolerance
7:00 PM Belle
9:00 PM Blue

January 31, 2023
1:00 PM Lesson in Murder
4:00 PM Anime Supremacy!
7:00 PM Every Day a Good Day
9:00 PM Blue Thermal

SM City Davao

January 27, 2023
1:00 PM In the Wake
4:00 PM And So the Baton is Passed
7:00 PM Belle
9:00 PM Blue Thermal

January 28, 2023
1:00 PM Anime Supremacy!
4:00 PM Every Day a Good Day
7:00 PM Lesson in Murder
9:00 PM Belle

January 29, 2023
1:00 PM Blue
4:00 PM Belle
7:00 PM Intolerance
9:00 PM Inu-Oh

January 30, 2023
1:00 PM In the Wake
4:00 PM And So the Baton is Passed
7:00 PM Belle
9:00 PM Blue Thermal

January 31, 2023
1:00 PM Anime Supremacy!
4:00 PM Every Day a Good Day
7:00 PM Lesson in Murder
9:00 PM Intolerance

FDCP Chair and CEO Tirso Cruz III

Here is the schedule for the FDCP Cinematheques.

Manila
January 28, 2023
4:00 PM Intolerance
January 29, 2023
4:00 PM And So the Baton is Passed

Negros
January 28, 2023
4:00 PM Blue
January 29, 2023
4:00 PM Inu-Oh

Iloilo
January 28, 2023
4:00 PM And So the Baton is Passed
January 29, 2023
4:00 PM Lesson in Murder

Nabunturan
January 28, 2023
4:00 PM Lesson in Murder
January 29, 2023
4:00 PM Blue

Davao
January 27, 2023
6:30 PM Intolerance
January 28, 2023
4:00 PM Inu-Oh
January 29, 2023
4:00 PM Inu-Oh

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