Below are five films that showed Japan after the war, capturing a curious zeitgeist as the country tried to make sense of its new situation and environment.
Tag: Japanese Films
5 Intriguing Films Set in Samurai-Era Japan
Nothing quite stirs the imagination when it comes to Japanese history and culture like the time and life of samurai (Japanese “aristocratic” warriors – 侍) in Japan (12th century to early 17th century). Their code, techniques and lifestyle continue to fascinate us, but, though there have been many film lists made that explore stories about…
10 Awe-Inspiring Films Set in Tokyo
Originating as the fishing village of Edo on the Sumida river in Japan, the city of Tokyo is currently one of the world’s most magnificent capitals. The metropolis, boasting more than thirty-six million inhabitants in its widest reach, fuses and lets coexist modern and traditional cultures like no other city on the planet does, capturing…
“The Boy and the Heron” Review
The Boy and the Heron is Miyazaki’s “fever-dream”, a symbolism-driven animated tour de force full of adventure, wonder and insight.
10 “Must-See” Japanese Films
This list excludes anime, and, to ensure variety, includes only two films from any one director. I. Tokyo Story [1953] Tokyo Story is one of the greatest films of all time. Director Yasujirō Ozu’s trade-mark subtlety in rendering a picture so quietly powerful is seen here as in no other film as a story is told…
The 6 Films 6 Decades Blogathon
As some of you already know, today is the National Classic Movie Day, and I am participating in the 6 Films 6 Decades Blogathon hosted over at Classic Film & TV Cafe. The aim is to list 6 favourite films from 6 different decades, and my choices are: Truthfully, I cannot be too original in…
“Tekkonkinkreet” (“Treasure Town”) Review: Wondrous & Hard-Hitting
Tekkonkinkreet [2006] – ★★★★1/2 🛒Grim realism collides with childhood innocence in a striking, kaleidoscopic artwork. Based on a manga Tekkon kinkurito (1993) by Taiyo Matsumoto, Treasure Town is a well-made animation about two orphaned boys: street-wise and brave Kuro (Black), and lovable and innocent Shiro (White). Street-raised “Yin and Yang” of the cruel world around…
“Departures” Review
Departures [2008] – ★★★★1/2 Departures is the Japanese winner of the 2009 Academy Award in the category of the Best Foreign Language Picture. Loosely based on a memoir by Shinmon Aoki titled Coffinman: The Journal of a Buddhist Mortician, it tells the story of Daigo Kobayashi (Masahiro Motoki), an ex-cellist who comes to his home…
“The Third Murder” Review
A strangely compelling murder-mystery, which, together with a peculiar Japanese understatement and an insight into the Japanese criminal justice, delightfully subverts expectations.
Spotlight on Film 