Last year I discovered a fantastic festival that opened my eyes to cinema from Japan. The Toronto Japanese Film Festival has been going strong for over a decade now. This year it runs from June 16-30th in person in Toronto screened at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre. We are looking at five films from this year’s slate that caught our attention.
To hear our thoughts on last year’s fest, listen to episode 155: Toronto Japanese Film Festival.
THE PASS: LAST DAYS OF THE SAMURAI
Canadian Premiere on Thursday Jun. 16, 2022 7:30 PM
Directed by: Takashi Koizumi
Plot Synopsis: In 1867, political power returned to the Emperor and 260 years of the Tokugawa Shogunate came to an end. Civil war erupts between imperial loyalists in the west and the remaining shogunate in the east. Caught between both armies, Tsuginosuke Kawai, chief retainer of the Nagaoka domain in Echigo, decides to remain neutral in order to safeguard the lives of his clan. When his attempts at brokering peace through negotiation fail, however, Kawai resolves to face the end of the samurai era with dignity. Takashi Koizumi, assistant director to Akira Kurosawa on films including Kagemusha and Ran, creates classic samurai cinema, replete with gorgeous period costumes, sets and epic battle scenes.
Why I’m Excited: Name dropping Akira Kurosawa as someone you worked with, instantly makes this a movie I’m curious about. As a big fan of the samurai epics Japan has long given the world, films like this are one of the reasons the TJFF piques my interest. This movie sounds more like slow-burn political drama rather than some of the more big action-y set piece movies we often get, which is utterly intriguing as a film lover.
THE PURSUIT OF PERFECTION
Canadian Premiere Friday Jun. 17, 2022 7:00 PM
Directed by: Toshimichi Saito
Plot Synopsis: Did you know Tokyo has the highest number of Michelin-starred restaurants in the world? Focusing on four of the leading chefs in Japan today, this documentary explores the truth behind Japan’s unique and sophisticated food culture. What makes Tokyo cuisine so special is a dedication to the art and craft of cooking unparalleled anywhere in the world; the pursuit of absolute perfection. World-renowned food experts and gastronomists guide the audience into the further depths of the stories behind the chefs’ endless pursuit. A fascinating, mouth-watering feature fit for foodies and lovers of Japanese culinary culture.
Why I’m Excited: I’m a sucker for food documentaries. Last year I saw the excellent Come Back Anytime during Hot Docs about a ramen shop in Tokyo and it was bliss. As a foodie and having a fascination on the Michelin Star program, this documentary looks to create some truly tasty imagery and one that will likely have me running out to eat some delicious Japanese food for dinner.
MIDNIGHT SWAN
Canadian Premiere Sunday Jun. 19, 2022 7:00
Directed by: Eiji Uchida
Plot Synopsis: Nagisa is a transgender woman. Growing up as a man in Hiroshima, Nagisa faced prejudice and was ostracized by society. She moves to Tokyo where she works as a dancer in a nightclub. Her distant niece, Ichika is a middle school student neglected by her mother. After being kicked out of her home, Ichika travels to Tokyo and starts living with Nagisa and pursues ballet. Although initially reluctant, Nagisa takes care of Ichika and starts to develop maternal feelings for her for the first time. This powerful and heartrending film features shattering performances by its two leads and shines a light on the struggles faced by the LGBTQ community in Japan.
Why I’m Excited: We don’t get to see a lot of queer stories coming out of Japan and Asian cinema, and we get even less films about the Trans experiance worldwide. The fact that we get such a brave story coming out of an industry that still struggles with how to depict the realities of being Trans, makes this movie worth watching. Coming out right in the middle of Pride Month, makes the Canadian premiere of this movie timely.
ARISTOCRATS
Canadian Premiere Saturday Jun. 25, 2022 4:00
Directed by: Yukiko Sode
Plot Synopsis: This sophisticated, layered adaptation of Mariko Yamauchi’s novel looks at life in contemporary Tokyo from the perspectives of two women. Hanako, a child of wealth and privilege, finds herself isolated when her engagement ends and her family pushes her to find another husband among their elevated social echelon. Miki arrives in Tokyo from a less affluent small-town life to build a new life. When the aristocracy lawyer Koichiro enters both of their lives, a love-triangle forms. Sode questions how boundaries and hierarchies of class and gender intertwine in a nuanced tale of female friendship. An intelligent and engaging exploration of the traditional roles and expectations of women in Japan.
Why I’m Excited: Why this isn’t quite like the erotic thriller The Handmaiden from Korea’s Park Chan-wook, it also dealt with a complicated love angle. Film’s that have passion and confusion is an intriguing pairing. The examination on class and women in Japan makes the film far more interesting to see what it has to say.
IT’S A FLICKERING LIFE
Canadian Premier Wednesday Jun. 29, 2022 7:00
Directed by: Yoji Yamada
Plot Synopsis: Master director Yoji Yamada’s love letter to the Japanese film industry based on the novel by popular prize-winning novelist Maha Harada. Goh is a passionate gambler and deadbeat dad whose wife Yoshiko and family have given up on him. He spends his days at the local rep theatre with Terashin, an old friend from their days working at a film studio. They reminisce about the days of their youth, chasing their dreams, surrounded by the great directors and famous stars who represented Japan’s golden age of motion pictures, and about how they both fell in love with the same young women… This heartwarming tale of love, family and friendship spanning a lifetime was nominated for multiple Japanese Academy Awards including Best Picture.
Why I’m Excited: I said earlier I was a sucker for food documentaries, but even more so for movies that make cinema their subject matter. Making the subject about Japan’s golden age of movies, the 1950’s is a breathtaking choice to make. The world fell in love with Japanese cinema during this period, and it continues to hold dominance over the industry to this day.
For more information check out the TJFF website, and look for a podcast recap after the festival’s conclusion! Thank you to Virginia Kelly of V Kelly & Associates, Inc. for advance screeners.
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