I am not really sure what BLADES OF BLOOD is about specifically; it tells of an illegitimate son, the blind swordsman who teaches him to sword fight and a guy who killed the father and is trying to protect Korea from the Japanese occupation, whom both the son and blind swordsman want to kill. Long story short, I fell asleep. Literally. Action films are really not my thing, I find them mind-numbing. This does not mean I am adverse to a bit of onscreen violence, it's just that it was predictable....
December 2009 - May 2010
With the centennial of director Akira Kurosawa’s birth coming up, 2010 will certainly be the year of sword fighting films (chambara)! While Kurosawa will always remain the "Emperor", two actors dominated postwar Japanese genre cinema: Daiei Studios’ cult stars Shintaro Katsu (1931-1997) and Raizo Ichikawa (1931-1969).
Two actors, two styles, apparently poles apart yet actually complementary: earthy Katsu was the affable anti-idol rogue, unpredictable on- and off-screen, while ethereal, coolly enigmatic Ichikawa was considered the “James Dean of Japan”. Beyond their differences, both stars instilled in their roles a poisonous poetry and existential angst that lifted their art into genre-transcending territory. Curated by Chris D., genre film expert and author of Outlaw Masters of Japanese Film.
Two of the most versatile, underrated and comparatively unknown movie performers post-WWII were not from America or Europe, but from Japan. Shintaro Katsu and Raizo Ichikawa defined their generation as surely as actors like Robert Mitchum, Montgomery Clift, James Dean and Clint Eastwood defined theirs. And like Mitchum and Eastwood they were equally at home in rugged action roles as in heavy drama and light comedy. Katsu’s blind swordman Zatoichi and Ichikawa’s misanthropic halfbreed samurai Kyoshiro Nemuri stand out as unforgettable, iconic characters on the panoramic screen of 20th century world cinema. – Chris D.
Join us for this retrospective honoring two Japanese film legends.
“Zatoichi,” winner of the Silver Lion Award at the 60th Venice Film Festival and the People’s Choice Audience Award at the 28th Toronto International Film Festival, will be the opening film at the 6th Makati Cinemanila International Film Festival, which runs from July 1 to 12 at the Greenbelt Cinemas.“Zatoichi” (2003), a revival of the cult series that hit Japan in the early 60s, is writer/director/actor Takeshi Kitano’s first venture into period drama. Aside from winning in Venice ...
New York Asian Film Festival (June 18-27) at the Anthology Film Archives (32 Second Avenue, at Second Street)announces the full program.Detailed Schedule:FRIDAY, JUNE 18 6:15 Dance with the Wind (98 minutes)8:30 Hero (98 minutes)10:30 Legend of the Evil Lake (92 minutes)SATURDAY, JUNE 19 2PM Zatoichi 3 (89 minutes)4:00 Antenna (116 minutes)6:30 Doppelganger (107 minutes)8:30 Juon (92 minutes)10:30 Juon 2 (91 minutes)SUNDAY, JUNE 20 2PM Zatoichi 4 (91 minutes)4 The Road Taken (103 minutes)6 Umiza...
NEW YORK ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL 2004June 18 - 27, 2004at the Anthology Film Archives (32 Second Avenue @ Second Street)For the third year in a row, Subway Cinema presents its festival (one of only three in the US) devoted to new feature films from Asia. After watching 211 films, we feel we can safely say that this year¹s line-up includes the hands-down, no-holds-barred best new films from across the region. These are the movies that have been sweeping the awards ceremonies, racking up the box offi...
Welcome to the Nippon Connection Film Festival 2004!Film and culture from Japan: that is Nippon Connection. Taking place in Frankfurt/Main, Germany, the festival is going into its fourth year already. Nippon Connection ranks among the major festivals of its kind, providing its visitors with a range of brand-new feature films and digital productions from one of the most exciting film industries. The program additionally features a wealth of cultural events: workshops and lectures (from classes on...
ZATOICHI opening film IFFR 2004Special sidebar ‘Once We Were Birds: Romani Cinema’Isaac Julien (UK) selected as ‘Artist in Focus’The major director, star and entertainer Takeshi Kitano will attend the opening of the 33rd International Film Festival Rotterdam to present his latest feature ZATOICHI. Kitano himself plays the title role as the legendary, blind swordsman with the young star of Japanese cinema Asano Tadanobu as his opponent. “Full of vitality, wit and marvellously choreograp...