Special Guests at NYAFF
Japan Society and the New York Asian Film Festival
Present the North American Premiere of
ALWAYS – Sunset on Third Street
With Special Guest, Director Takashi Yamazaki
Followed by a Reception
Wednesday, June 14, at 7:30pm at Japan Society
ALWAYS – SUNSET ON THIRD STREET (Japan – 2005)
133 minutes, 35mm, in Japanese with English subtitles
North American Premiere
Directed by: Takashi Yamazaki
Starring: Hidetaka Yoshioka, Shin'ichi Tsutsumi, Maki Horikita, Koyuki
In Japan, in the late 1950's, anything was possible. The War was over, the rubble was cleared and the rebuilding began, nowhere more spectacularly than in Tokyo where the magnificent Tokyo Tower was underway and houses across the city were acquiring their first washing machines, refrigerators and that most holy of holies, televisions. Visually lavish, and the winner of 13 of Japan's 14 Academy Awards, ALWAYS – SUNSET ON THIRD STREET charts this time when anything was possible. Shot on TOHO's soundstages and using digital wizardry to resurrect 1950's Tokyo, everything is meticulously recreated from the spidery superstructure of the Tokyo Tower rising up against the sky, to the covers of the pulp sci fi magazines sold by Mr. Chagawa down the street who wants to write the Great Japanese Novel. His dreams are no more deluded than those of Mutsuko, a schoolgirl from the countryside who thinks she's taken a job with a thriving car manufacturer only to discover that she's working in a one-garage mechanic's shop. But pluck and luck abound in this gorgeous period piece that feels like a Frank Capra film if only he'd been a little more cynical and a lot more Japanese. Based on a popular manga, ALWAYS – SUNSET ON THIRD STREET is a movie that guarantees you'll cry at the end, but you won't feel cheap about it.
Tickets are $15/$12 Japan Society members, seniors & students, including opening remarks from director Takashi Yamazaki and a post show reception. For ticket or more information call the box office at 212-715-1258 or visit www.japansociety.org/film.
Awards:
Kinema Junpo Best Ten 2005 (Second Best Film, Best Supporting Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Film selected by Readers and Best Director selected by readers)
2005 Japan Academy Award (13 categories out of 14, including Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Leading Actor, Best Leading Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best New Actress, Cinematographer, Lighting, Music, Art, Sound Recordist, Editing)
30th Hochi Film Award (Best Film, Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress)
27th Yokohama Film Festival (Best Supporting Actress, Best New Actress and Best Visual Effect)
About Japan Society's Film Program
The Japan Society Film Program offers a diverse selection of Japanese films, from classics to contemporary independent productions. Its aim is to entertain, educate and support activities in the Arts & Culture programs. The Film Program has included retrospectives of great directors, thematic series and many U.S. premieres. Some original film series curated by the Japan Society have traveled to other U.S. venues in tours organized by the Film Program. The Film Program has provided English subtitles for films which have never been screened outside of Japan. Accompanying lectures help place the films in their aesthetic and social contexts, and filmmakers often introduce and discuss their work.
About the New York Asian Film Festival
Programmed by Subway Cinema, and now celebrating its fifth year, the New York Asian Film Festival runs from June 16 – July 1st at the Anthology Film Archives and the ImaginAsian theater. The world's only audience-supported film festival dedicated to pop hits and blockbuster entertainment from across Asia, the NYAFF is rumored to be the solution for world peace. More info at www.nyaff.org
About Japan Society
Japan Society, America's leading resource on Japan, is a private, nonprofit institution founded in New York in 1907. The Society promotes understanding and cooperation between the U.S. and Japan through a full range of programs in Global Affairs, Arts & Culture and Education. Society programming creates rich encounters and exchanges that increasingly reflect the broader Asian and global context of the U.S.-Japan relationship.
Present the North American Premiere of
ALWAYS – Sunset on Third Street
With Special Guest, Director Takashi Yamazaki
Followed by a Reception
Wednesday, June 14, at 7:30pm at Japan Society
ALWAYS – SUNSET ON THIRD STREET (Japan – 2005)
133 minutes, 35mm, in Japanese with English subtitles
North American Premiere
Directed by: Takashi Yamazaki
Starring: Hidetaka Yoshioka, Shin'ichi Tsutsumi, Maki Horikita, Koyuki
In Japan, in the late 1950's, anything was possible. The War was over, the rubble was cleared and the rebuilding began, nowhere more spectacularly than in Tokyo where the magnificent Tokyo Tower was underway and houses across the city were acquiring their first washing machines, refrigerators and that most holy of holies, televisions. Visually lavish, and the winner of 13 of Japan's 14 Academy Awards, ALWAYS – SUNSET ON THIRD STREET charts this time when anything was possible. Shot on TOHO's soundstages and using digital wizardry to resurrect 1950's Tokyo, everything is meticulously recreated from the spidery superstructure of the Tokyo Tower rising up against the sky, to the covers of the pulp sci fi magazines sold by Mr. Chagawa down the street who wants to write the Great Japanese Novel. His dreams are no more deluded than those of Mutsuko, a schoolgirl from the countryside who thinks she's taken a job with a thriving car manufacturer only to discover that she's working in a one-garage mechanic's shop. But pluck and luck abound in this gorgeous period piece that feels like a Frank Capra film if only he'd been a little more cynical and a lot more Japanese. Based on a popular manga, ALWAYS – SUNSET ON THIRD STREET is a movie that guarantees you'll cry at the end, but you won't feel cheap about it.
Tickets are $15/$12 Japan Society members, seniors & students, including opening remarks from director Takashi Yamazaki and a post show reception. For ticket or more information call the box office at 212-715-1258 or visit www.japansociety.org/film.
Awards:
Kinema Junpo Best Ten 2005 (Second Best Film, Best Supporting Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Film selected by Readers and Best Director selected by readers)
2005 Japan Academy Award (13 categories out of 14, including Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Leading Actor, Best Leading Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best New Actress, Cinematographer, Lighting, Music, Art, Sound Recordist, Editing)
30th Hochi Film Award (Best Film, Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress)
27th Yokohama Film Festival (Best Supporting Actress, Best New Actress and Best Visual Effect)
About Japan Society's Film Program
The Japan Society Film Program offers a diverse selection of Japanese films, from classics to contemporary independent productions. Its aim is to entertain, educate and support activities in the Arts & Culture programs. The Film Program has included retrospectives of great directors, thematic series and many U.S. premieres. Some original film series curated by the Japan Society have traveled to other U.S. venues in tours organized by the Film Program. The Film Program has provided English subtitles for films which have never been screened outside of Japan. Accompanying lectures help place the films in their aesthetic and social contexts, and filmmakers often introduce and discuss their work.
About the New York Asian Film Festival
Programmed by Subway Cinema, and now celebrating its fifth year, the New York Asian Film Festival runs from June 16 – July 1st at the Anthology Film Archives and the ImaginAsian theater. The world's only audience-supported film festival dedicated to pop hits and blockbuster entertainment from across Asia, the NYAFF is rumored to be the solution for world peace. More info at www.nyaff.org
About Japan Society
Japan Society, America's leading resource on Japan, is a private, nonprofit institution founded in New York in 1907. The Society promotes understanding and cooperation between the U.S. and Japan through a full range of programs in Global Affairs, Arts & Culture and Education. Society programming creates rich encounters and exchanges that increasingly reflect the broader Asian and global context of the U.S.-Japan relationship.
bookmark/share with:
