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Based on Wahei Tatematsu’s novel “Enrai”, the production of “Distant Thunder” has quite a background behind it. Initially, several directors competed for the adaptation rights, while Nikkatsu considered adapting another of Tatematsu’s novels, “Buriki no Hokukaikisen”. However, those plans were stalled, and focus shifted to “Enrai”. Atg’s Shiro Sasaki intended it to be Kichitaro Negishi’s directorial debut, but by the time the project materialized, it had become his eighth work. It was still, however, his mainstream debut, since his previous productions had been pinku eiga. Negishi, who had no personal connection to rural areas, agreed to direct because the characters he wanted to portray happened to live in the countryside. He had also long hoped to collaborate with screenwriter Haruhiko Arai.

One controversial scene involves a long take of Johnny Okura delivering a monologue inside the greenhouse. Though edited from three cuts, it appears as a...

As we mentioned many times before, Rotterdam is the best international festival in Europe in terms of Asian selection, and the programmers did not disappoint once more. Even more so since the selection stays, thankfully, away from the stereotypes about what an Asian film is or it should be. Furthermore, the focus in S/Se Asia was definitely once more rewarding, with the emphasis in Indonesia obviously being indicative of how close IFFR is following what is happening in the region. The presence of the likes of Miike and Toyoda, along with the ‘film of the year’ “Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In” covered the Far East.

Here is the sum of our articles for IFFR 2025.

1. Film Review: Kajolrekha (2024) by Giasuddin Selim

Though highly watchable, the movie ultimately lacks the social realism or revolutionary edge that might make for an interesting contemporary adaptation of this ancient tale. Instead, the director has made a comfortable,...

“Yasuko, Songs of Days Past” tells the story of a love triangle involving the poet Chuya Nakahara, the literary critic Hideo Kobayashi, and the actress Yasuko Hasegawa in the 1920s. These are all historical figures and the plot is based on true events. While Nakahara and Kobayashi are known in the West, Hasegawa is relatively unknown today. However, she is the central figure in the story.

Yasuko, Songs of Days Past is screening at International Film Festival Rotterdam

Chuya Nakahara’s life was tragically cut short in 1937 at the young age of 30 due to tuberculosis. He was a pioneer of modernist poetry, and his work continued to gain recognition in the years following his untimely death, earning him comparisons to the Japanese Rimbaud. Director Kichitaro Negishi (“Distant Thunder” 1981) captures a moment from the poet’s youth when he fell in love with aspiring actress Yasuko Hasegawa, while also contending with...

Japan Society has posted the full list of films to be screened as part of their Japan Cuts Festival of Contemporary Japanese Cinema which will take place in NYC from July 1-16, 2010.

Here’s the list. The films marked with an asterisk will be co-presented with the 2010 New York Asian Film Festival.

About Her Brother (2010, North American Premiere, Dir. Yoji Yamada)

Accidental Kidnapper (2009, New York Premiere, Dir. Hideo Sakaki)

Alien vs. Ninja* (2010, World Premiere, Dir. Seiji Chiba)

Bare Essence of Life, aka Ultra Miracle Love Story (2009, New York Premiere, Dir. Satoko Yokohama)

The Blood of Rebirth* (2009, New York Premiere, Dir. Toshiaki Toyoda)

Boys on the Run* (2010, North American Premiere, Dir. Daisuke Miura)

Confessions* (2010, U.S. Premiere, Dir. Tetsuya Nakashima)

Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World (2004, New York Premiere, Dir. Isao Yukisada)

Dear Doctor* (2009, New York Premiere, Dir. Miwa Nishikawa)

Electric Button, aka Moon & Cherry (2004, U.S. Premiere,...

Partial list of nominees & winners Picture of the Year: Villon’s Wife (Kichitaro Negishi) * The Unbroken (Setsuro Wakamatsu) Zero Focus (Isshin Inudo) The Summit: A Chronicle of Stones (Daisaku Kimura) Dear Doctor (Miwa Nishikawa) Outstanding Foreign Language Film * Gran Torino (Clint Eastwood) Slumdog Millionaire (Danny Boyle) The Changeling (Clint Eastwood) The Wrestler (Darren Aronofsky) Red Cliff – Part 2 (John Woo) Animation of the Year Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance (Khara) * Summer Wars (Mamoru Hosoda) Doraemon (Shigeo Koshi) Yona Yona Penguin (Rintaro) [...]...

The winners at the recently held World Film Festival in Montreal have been announced, with France's "Korkoro (Freedom)" by Tony Gatlif winning the Grand prix des Americas.

Also declared winners are Japan's "Villon's Wife," which won Best Director for Kichitaro Negishi, and China's "Weaving Girl" by Wang Quan'an, which took home the Special Grand Prix of the jury.

Jury for the awards were represented by its president, Jafar Panahi (Iran), and members Eiji Okuda (Japan), Diane Demers (Canada), David Lahaye (Canada), Fernando Mendez-Leiti Serrano (Spain), Pascal Thomas (France), and Reinhard Wagner (France).

The World Film Festival was held from August 27 to September 7.