The Shinsedai Cinema Festival, presented by Subaru, returns for its sophomore year at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre from July 22-25. Shinsedai means "new generation" and the festival is dedicated to bringing the best of next-wave Japanese independent cinema to movie audiences in Toronto. The festival is curated by author & film historian Jasper Sharp (co-founder of Midnight Eye) and Chris MaGee of the Toronto J-Film Pow-wow.
In 2009, Reel Asian's Centrepiece Presentation was the Canadian premiere of Red Heroine (紅俠), a rare wuxia film from China's golden era of silent films. The 1929 film was presented with a new live score performed by the Devil Music Ensemble. The event was a huge hit and so we are very pleased to be co-presenting a similar event at Shinsedai this year.
The Water Magician (滝の白糸)
Dir: Kenji Mizoguchi (溝口 健二) | Japan 1933 | 100min | Silent film with live musical accompaniment
7:00 PM | Friday, July 23 | Kobayashi Hall | Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre | 6 Garamond Court
$16 general admission | Buy tickets online | Charge-by-phone at 416 441 2345 x 222
This classic silent work, one of Japan's first independently-produced films, is directed by one of Japan's most revered directors. The film tells of the tragic love between an impoverished carriage driver and a renowned female performer who literally makes water dance across the stage. Live musical accompaniment will be performed by Toronto experimental group Vowls. This is another great opportunity to see a rarely-seen historical work presented in a contemporary context!
The festival opens with Kakera: A Piece of Our Life (カケラ), a contemporary post-modern lesbian love story from first-time director Momoko Ando (安藤 モモ子), based on the Love Vibes manga by Erika Sakurazawa (桜沢 エリカ). Preceding the opening night film will be the beautiful animated short Ladybird's Requiem (てんとう虫のおとむらい), and animator Akino Kondoh (近藤 聡乃) will be in attendance. Another festival highlight - especially if you liked Reel Asian's 2009 opening night film Overheard (竊聽風雲) - is sure to be Confessions of a Dog (ポチの告白), by director Gen Takahashi (高橋玄). So controversial it was not released theatrically in Japan, this action thriller about corruption in the ranks of Japanese law enforcement makes its Canadian premiere with director Takahashi in attendance.
New this year is the Jishu Eiga Room, a secondary venue where selections from the festival screen continuously during the weekend of the festival. Entry is free for passholders, or pay-as-you-go for $4 per entry. It's a great opportunity to sample what the festival has to offer. For a complete schedule of films, visit the Shinsedai Cinema Festival website. Tickets for regular screenings start at $12 and can be purchased online from June 23 until July 20. Passes are also available; both may be purchased at select retail locations.