For the Spring 2012 semester we will be looking at a wide range of films from Japan in the early 1980s. While the film industry was not doing well commercially, many excellent filmmakers got their start in the 1980s and many established directors made some of their best work. From comedy to neorealism to drama to Pink Film, this semester's selection of films surveys the diversity of Japanese filmmaking.

Enjoy the films!

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Tuesday January 17th @ 5:30pm
Center for Korean Studies Auditorium Japan | 1981 | 105 min
Directed by KOHEI Oguri
In Japanese with English subtitles

Synopsis
In post-WWII Osaka, a young boy befriends the son of a riverside prostitute.

Awards & Honors
Best Feature - 1983 Hawai`i International Film Festival
Best Feature - 1982 Kinema Junpo Awards
Best Director - 1982 Japanese Academy Awards
Best Film - 1982 Blue Ribbon Awards
Best Film - 1982 Mainichi Film Concours
Silver Prize - 1981 Moscow International Film Festival
Best Foreign Language Film Nominee - 1981 Academy Awards

Supplemental Reading
Interview with director KOHEI Oguri: Midnight Eye
New York Times Review: New York Times
Study Guide to the Film: Asian Educational Media Service

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Tuesday January 31st @ 5:30pm
Center for Korean Studies Auditorium Japan | 1983 | 108 min
Directed by SAI Yoichi
In Japanese with English subtitles

Synopsis
A police officer's out-of-control life style leads to his downfall. Based on a true story.

Awards & Honors
Sponichi Grand Prize New Talent Award - 1984 Mainichi Film Concours

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Tuesday February 14th @ 5:30pm
Center for Korean Studies Auditorium Japan | 1982 | 109 min
Directed by FUKUSAKU Kinji
In Japanese with English subtitles

Synopsis
A stuntman goes to extremes to make his leading man happy.

Awards & Honors
Best Film - 1983 Japanese Academy Awards
Best Film - 1983 Blue Ribbon Awards
Best Film - 1982 Hochi Film Awards
Best Film - 1983 Kinema Junpo Awards
Best Film - 1983 Mainichi Film Concours

Supplemental Reading
Midnight Eye Review: Midnight Eye
Introduction to the Director Midnight Eye

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Tuesday February 28th @ 5:30pm
Center for Korean Studies Auditorium Japan | 1982 | 109 min
Directed by WAKAMATSU Koji
In Japanese with English subtitles

Synopsis
A man experiencing a mid-life crisis drugs and rapes women while they sleep. Based on a true story.

Awards & Honors
Best New Actress - 1983 Yokohama Film Festival

Notes
Last semester we watched a selection of director Koji WAKAMATSU's 1960s films, now see what he was up to in the 1980s!

SCENES OF GRAPHIC SEXUAL VIOLENCE. VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.

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Tuesday March 13th @ 5:30pm
Center for Korean Studies Auditorium Japan | 1980 | 110 min
Directed by OMORI Kazuki
In Japanese with English subtitles

Synopsis
Based on Haruki MURAKAMI's debut novel about a biology student who returns to his hometown for the Summer.

Supplemental Reading
Information on the MURAKAMI novel: Haruki Murakami Resources

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Tuesday April 3rd @ 5:30pm
Center for Korean Studies Auditorium Japan | 1983 | 104 min
Directed by ONBAYASHI Nobuhiko
In Japanese with English subtitles

Synopsis
A schoolgirl acquires the ability to travele through time.

Awards & Honors
Sponichi Grand Prize New Talent Award - 1984 Mainichi Film Concours
Best New Actress - 1983 Hochi Film Awards
Best New Actress - 1984 Yokohama Film Festival
Best New Actress - 1984 Blue Ribbon Awards

Supplemental Reading
Introduction to the Director: Midnight Eye
Other Adaptation of the Novel: Wikipedia

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Tuesday April 17th @ 5:30pm
Center for Korean Studies Auditorium Japan | 1983 | 104 min
Directed by ISHII Gakuryu (formerly ISHII Sogo)
In Japanese with English subtitles

Synopsis
  A Tokyo family moves out of their cramped apartment to a new house in the suburbs.

Awards & Honors
Best New Actress - 1985 Yokohama Film Festival

Supplemental Reading
LA Times Review: LA Times
Interview with the Director: Midnight Eye

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