Eiga Sai 2013 Opening Night

The World Heritage in Japan Exhibit

Eiga Sai 2013, the eagerly anticipated Japanese film festival at the Shang Complex, started the month long celebration of the Philippines-Japan Friendship Month by the Embassy of Japan and the Japan Foundation, Manila. Japanese Ambassador Toshinao Urabe, Japan Foundation, Manila Director Shuji Takatori welcomed the guests who gathered at the Shangri-La Plaza Mall’s Atrium for the opening cocktails for this invitation only event. A contemporary dance number by Rhosam Prudenciado and Mia Cabalfin, both of whom have been chosen for the Artist-in-Residence program of Kyoto Art Center back in 2012, formally opened the World Heritage in Japan Exhibit. Aside from the month long celebration of the Philippines-Japan Friendship Month, the 40^th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation is also being celebrated this year as well.

Ototo (おとうと)/About Her Brother

©2010 "About Her Brother" Film Partners

Just like Always - Sunset on Third Street 3 which was shown during the press conference, the opening film for this year’s Eiga Sai is yet another weeper. The film, directed by Yoji Yamada, tells about the story of the Takanos headed by widow Ginko (Sayuri Yoshinaga) and how she and her daughter Koharu (Yu Aoi) are made miserable by the family’s black sheep Tetsuro Endo (Tsurube Shofukutei) who is Ginko’s younger brother. Not only did Tetsuro ruin his niece’s wedding reception, he also burdens his sister with a massive debt he owes his lover (whom he has abandoned). But in the end, when all thoughts of reconciliation within the family and redemption for Tetsuro have seemingly gone out of the window, he surprisingly becomes the source of joy at the most unlikely of places. I wouldn’t want to spoil the ending for those who would want to catch the film in the upcoming legs of Eiga Sai but I warn that they better have handkerchiefs and tissues ready.

One of the things that I found remarkable in this film was that the focus was on middle aged characters. I’ve been hearing a lot of middle aged and mature actors that there is a lack of good and substantial roles for them in a film industry obsessed with youth. I know wonder if movies with middle aged characters are quite common in Japanese cinema or if About Her Brother is just one of the exceptions. Another thing that struck me about the film was how important family honor is in Japanese culture. I find it hard to imagine how easy it was for people to disown and cut ties with the black sheep in their family. And I find it quite unbelievable how Ginko went beyond expectations when she settled that massive debt without missing a beat. It made me wonder also if Japanese women normally go through that length, be submissive and act like martyrs just for the sake of family honor. On a lighter note, I found it amusing when I recognized one of the minor actors in the film, Takashi Sasano who played one of the quirky characters in the neighborhood. He also played a very similar role, that of a quirky neighbor, in Okuribito(おくりびと)/Departures (also another tear jerker) which was the opening film of Eiga Sai 2011.

Eiga Sai 2013 just concluded its Shang Cineplex run but it will tour in key places around the country starting at the FDCP Cinemateque in Davao City on July 19-28, 2013, then on to the Ayala Center in Cebu on August 7-11, 2013 and lastly, at the UP Film Institute on August 19-25, 2013.

SM Mall of Asia screens Japanese animated films

As if the Eiga Sai 2013 wasn't enough to satisfy the Japanese film buff, there will also be a couple of anime screenings happening at Cinema 6 of the SM Mall of Asia this July 20-21, 2013. Two Japanese animated films, The Place Promised in Our Early Days and 5 Centimeters per Second, will be screened as part of the Film Cultural Exchange Program presented by the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines, together with the Japan Foundation Manila, in cooperation with the SM Mall of Asia Cinema and the Film Development Council of the Philippines. And just like the Eiga Sai, the film screenings will be free admission which is the norm for all the events that are part of the Philippines-Japan Friendship Month.

Here is the screening schedule of the Japanese animated films showing at Cinema 6 of the SM Mall of Asia:

July 20, 2013

7:00 PM The Place Promised in our Early Days

July 21, 2013
11:30 AM 5 Centimeters per Second

2:30 PM The Place Promised in Our Early Days
4:30 PM 5 Centimeters per Second

Text by RAd

Photo by Roland Samson