From horror to a 'foodie fever dream': Japan Society announces its film lineup for May
New York City, New York (Release): Japan Society, a 116-year-old nonprofit organization bridging the US and Japan, has announced it will host three special screenings in May spanning classic Japanese cinema, a lauded documentary, and a major North American premiere.
Japan Society’s May events begin on May 1 with French filmmaker Chris Marker’s influential 1983 documentary 'Sans Soleil' presented on rare imported 35mm. Driven by the desire to “capture life in the process of becoming history", Marker traveled the globe and made a sprawling body of work that ruminates on the nature of memory and time. Of the several films he made in Japan, 'Sans Soleil' remains the late director’s greatest achievement. This event is presented with film distributor and book publisher The Film Desk to celebrate the launch of the first English language edition of Chris Marker’s 1982 photo essay 'Le Dépays' — a collection of Marker’s black-and-white photography in Japan tracing themes similar to 'Sans Soleil'. The screening will be introduced by editor Sadie Starnes.
Japan Society then celebrates iconoclastic Japanese director Takashi Miike with the North American Premiere of 'Lumberjack the Monster' on May 6. Opening in Japanese theaters just this past December, 'Lumberjack the Monster' delivers the director’s trademark horror and humor in a cat-and-mouse chase between a serial killer and a psychopathic lawyer hot on his trail. 'Lumberjack the Monster' is presented together with the upcoming Tribeca Festival’s 'Escape from Tribeca' program in honor of the film’s forthcoming Netflix release.
Lastly, Japan Society will celebrate its 117th birthday with a members-only screening and reception on May 19 featuring Juzo Itami’s 'Tampopo', an essential foodie fever dream. Tampopo is an eclectic film about a woman’s journey to save her ramen shop featuring an eccentric all-star cast including a young Koji Yakusho and Ken Watanabe.
“We’re honored to present three diverse screenings showcasing three very different elements of Japanese cinema,” said Peter Tatara, Japan Society's Director of Film. “We welcome audiences across New York to discover rare, new, and meaningful Japanese films together with us.”