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Shinobu Yaguchi specializes in feel-good “zero to hero” films, where a group of people take up an unlikely activity, face a number of obstacles, but finally succeed. His film Waterboys was particularly successful and led to a TV series which entered its third season in 2005. He was awarded Best Screenplay at the 2005 Yokohama Film Festival for his film Swing Girls. (Wikipedia)

Having previously won the ‘audience choice award’ at season four of Asian Pop Up Cinema, his film “Survival Family” was brought back as part of the online themed festival ‘father’s day cheer’. On this occasion, we got a chance to speak to the director about challenges in capturing a powerless Japan, as well as his own thoughts on the role technology plays in modern society.

“Survival Family” is screening as part of Father’s Day Cheer on Asian Pop Up Cinema

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Within a society driven by technological dependency, “Survival Family” looks at how the familiar family structure would be disrupted when faced with a complete blackout. Backed by this premise, a family of four is forced to venture out in search of necessities as there seems to be no end or insight into the dire situation. While the family has to face hordes of others in the same desperate scenario, they also must learn to understand their place in the family, which was previously subdued by a focus on money and distraction with the conveniences of modern age.

“Survival Family” is screening as part of Father’s Day Cheer on Asian Pop Up Cinema

The sheer amount of work in creating a landscape without any source of power imbues the production with a sense of awe and wonder. The commitment to world building is apparent in every scene, making for a surreal experience in seeing various locations,...

Asian Pop-Up Cinema presented by Sophia’s Choice is looking to spread some Father’s Day Cheer with free screenings of three Japanese films on the subject of fatherhood. Registration for each showing is required, you can find those links and more information on the films on Asian Pop Up Cinema site.

The Hikitas’s Are Expecting! (2019) by Toru Hosokawa

Directed by Toru Hosokawa, starring Gaku Hamada, Shiro Ito, Yutaka Matsushige & Keiko Kitawa, this Japanese drama tells the story of a 49-yr-old writer and his wife. They are happily married without children for some time until one day the wife decides she wants a child. After numerous attempts to conceive, nothing happens. In frustration, they go to the hospital to get tests and answers. What they discover is not what was expected. (Asian Pop-up Cinema)

My Dad and Mr. Ito (2016) by Yuki Tanada

Directed by woman director Yuki Tanada, starring Juri Ueno,...

Jurassic sequel becomes the third highest grossing imported film in 2018.

Incredibles 2 failed to topple Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom which reigned again for the second straight week in the period of Jun 18-24.

The $84m added by Universal’s Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom represented about 60% of the week’s total box office. With a 10-day total of $188.3m, it has become the third highest grossing imported film in 2018 and will soon overtake Ready Player One for second place.

Disney/Pixar’s Incredibles 2 launched strongly in second with $19.3m from its three-day opening weekend, making it the best Pixar’s debut in China.