Konnichiwa, nihon eiga sai e yokoso! (Hello, welcome to Japanese Film Festival!)

Japanese Film Festival is back again. This time around you can enjoy 10 films, which will be screened at GSC Mid Valley, GSC 1 Utama in Klang Valley and GSC Gurney Plaza in Penang. For both of those who enjoyed and missed last year, this is the chance for you to catch these Japanese films with such an affordable ticket price again!

This is certainly a spectacular festival for Japanese film fans. We are screening 7 new titles produced in between 2004 and 2007. From human drama and anime to horror, the great variety of films ensures you a wonderful weekend.

We will also have “ICHIKAWA Kon Retrospective” and screen 3 titles directed by him as a mark of respect and memorial to this world-renowned director, who passed away on 13th February this year.

And yet a secret to all of you, we’ll have a special appearance of Ultraman Mebius at GSC Mid Valley on 19th July 2008, Saturday to celebrate this festival with you.

So, hurry up, circle the festival dates and spread this news to everyone around you. Let’s make this festival a memorable one!

KUALA LUMPUR
Venue : GSC Mid Valley & GSC 1 Utama (New Wing)
Duration : 17 (Thu) ? 21 (Mon) July 2008
Ticket Price : RM5 per screening
Reservation : Call GSC at 03-8312 3456 or log on to www.gsc.com.my

PENANG
Venue : GSC Gurney Plaza
Duration : 25 (Fri) ? 27 (Sun) July 2008
Ticket Price : RM5 per screening
Reservation : Call GSC at 04-222 3456 or log on to www.gsc.com.my

* Booking can be made from 2 days before the screening.
** If reservation is full, tickets may be available for walk-in purchase at participating cinemas.
*** All films are in Japanese with English subtitles. Kaidan is in Japanese with English and Chinese subtitles

? TOKYO TOWER ? Mom & Me, and sometimes Dad ? / 東京タワー　オカンとボクと、時々オトン
Directed by MATSUOKA Joji 松岡　錠司 (2007, 142min)

? Ultraman Mebius & Ultraman Brothers / ウルトラマンメビウス＆ウルトラ兄弟
Directed by KONAKA Kazuya 小中　和哉 (2006, 93min)

? The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (Animation) / 時をかける少女
Directed by HOSODA Mamoru 細田　守 (2006, 98min)

? Fourteen / 14歳
Directed by HIROSUE Hiromasa 廣末　哲万 (2006, 114min)

? Tony Takitani / トニー滝谷
Directed by ICHIKAWA Jun 市川　準 (2004, 75min)

? Memories of Matsuko / 嫌われ松子の一生
Directed by NAKASHIMA Tetsuya 中島　哲也 (2006, 130min)

? Kaidan / 怪談
Directed by NAKATA Hideo中田　秀夫 (2007, 119min)

ICHIKAWA Kon Retrospective
? Harp of Burma / ビルマの竪琴
Directed by ICHIKAWA Kon 市川 崑 (1956, 116min)

? Ten Dark Women / 黒い十人の女
Directed by ICHIKAWA Kon 市川 崑 (1961, 103min)

? Dora-Heita / どら平太
Directed by ICHIKAWA Kon 市川 崑 (2000, 111min)

Notes: Titles are subject to change in the case of unforeseeable matters.

“Ultraman Mebius & Ultraman Brothers”

1. Ultraman Mebius Special Appearance @ GSC Mid Valley
19th July 2008, Saturday
12:15pm, 2:30pm, 6:15pm, 8:30pm
* Each session is for 15min only

2. Ultraman Mebius Special Lucky Draw
Watch “Ultraman Mebius & Ultraman Brothers” at Japanese Film Festival 2008 and stand a chance to win wonderful Ultraman goods!
* At any of the screenings of “Ultraman Mebius & Ultraman Brothers” at GSC Mid Valley, GSC 1 Utama (New Wing) and GSC Gurney Plaza
** The winner will be announced on JFKL’s website a week after the festival ends

SYNOPSIS

Tokyo Tower ? Mom & Me, and Sometimes Dad [東京タワー　オカンとボクと、時々オトン] MATSUOKA Joji / 2007 / 142min
Leaving the hopeless Father behind, Mother brings up Masaya by her own hands. Masaya starts to live alone in Tokyo, but it goes into a complete downfall. However, life starts to change when Mother is found sick with cancer.

Ultraman Mebius & Ultraman Brothers [ウルトラマンメ ビウス＆ウルトラ兄弟]
KONAKA Kazuya / 2006 / 93min
20 years ago, an intense battle raged between the gigantic multi-tentacled monster U-Killer Saurus and four of the Ultraman Brothers. The four Ultraman Brothers must use the Final Cross Shield to trap the beast forever under the sea. But now, a group of evil aliens is trying to release the monster U-Killer and conquer the world again.

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time [時をかける少女]
HOSODA Mamoru / 2006 / 98min
A high school girl, Makoto, obtains the power of the “Time Loop”, and ability to leap time. She starts using the power to satisfy her trifling desires. However, her best friend gets involved in an accident because Makoto selfishly changed the past.

Fourteen [14歳] HIROSUE Hiromasa / 2006 / 114min
Ryo is a junior high teacher, spends her energy mediating the tense atmosphere between students and faculty. For the young teens, there is only frustration of having ones ambitions crushed by self-important adults who treat them as children.

Tony Takitani [トニー滝谷] ICHIKAWA Jun / 2004 / 75min
Tony has always been alone but never really felt lonely. Later in life he becomes an illustrator and falls in love with Eiko, an editor. Tony and Eiko get married and live together happily, but there is one problem: Eiko is addicted to shopping for clothes.

Memories of Matsuko [嫌われ松子の一生]
NAKASHIMA Tetsuya / 2006 / 130min
Matsuko is a single woman, who dreams of being married to a loved one, but her life starts going down hill when she is sacked as a teacher. Matsuko only dreams of a happy life with a man, but she always ends up betrayed.

Kaidan [怪談] NAKATA Hideo / 2007 / 119min
250 years ago. Soetsu is murdered by Shinzaemon, and his body is disposed of in the pool of snaking river. 20 years later, in a chance encounter, Shinkichi, the son of Sozaemon, meets Toyoshiga, the daughter of Soetsu, and they fall in love.

ICHIKAWA Kon Retrospective

Harp of Burma [ビルマの竪琴]
ICHIKAWA Kon / 1956 / 116min
In the summer of 1945 on the Burma front in World War II, the unit of Captain Inoue’s is making its way with a Burmese harp accompaniment played by Mizushima, a private soldier, to the group singing.

Ten Dark Women [黒い十人の女] ICHIKAWA Kon / 1961 / 103min
Matsukichi, a TV producer, conducts on going affairs with nine different women, practically simultaneously. After a certain amount of bickering among themselves, the nine mistresses, along with the wife, decide to knock him off.

Dora-Heita [どら平太]
ICHIKAWA Kon / 2000 / 111min
The town magistrate’s office in a certain minor lord’s domain has been without a magistrate for a while, ever since the three previous officials mysteriously disappeared. The new magistrate’s name is Koheita, but he’s better known as Dora-Heita, the ‘Alley-cat Magistrate’.

Organisers
? The Japan Foundation, Kuala Lumpur
? Golden Screen Cinemas
? GSC International Screens

Sponsors
? Panasonic
? Bandai
? Titt Tak

Official Movie Channel
? ASTRO KIRANA

Official Radio Station
? My FM

Catering Sponsor
? Zakuro

In Cooperation With
? Consulate-General of Japan in Penang
? The Japan Club of Kuala Lumpur

For further inquiry, please contact The Japan Foundation, Kuala Lumpur at 03-2161 2104 or email to jpcc@jfkl.org.my

To view the programme booklet, click here.