- The Hidden Blade
- The Hidden Blade (2006) is the second of three films in Director Yoji Yamada's award winning trilogy. The third and last film will be released in 2007. The film tonight depicts the story of one samurai, Munezo, who attempts to follow the samurai Bushido code of honor even as he is conflicted by his love for a lower class woman and by the winds of change and modernization. In his role as samurai, Munezo has learned the secret "Hidden Blade" technique which he must use in dueling his former pal and brilliant swordsman, Hazama. The viewer will note the exquisite scenes of 19th century rural Japanese life in Hidden Blade. One critic writes, "...you can almost smell the rice boiling over the charcoal flame."
- The First Battle
- The First Battle (2006) is a documentary by writer and film maker Tom Coffman. The film helps explain why 120,000 Japanese Americans on the mainland were interned while 160,000 of their Hawaiian counterparts remained at home during WWII. The Japanese Hawaiians were also slated for mass internment after Pearl Harbor in December 1941. It never happened. Some rare archival film footage of old Hawaii in the movie gives us a sense of Hawaii at that time. Coffman says that, "This is a David and Goliath story, a reminder that the contest doesn't always go to the obviously powerful; but to those of humble status who are clear-minded and focused...the Nisei (second generation Japanese) and their allies who resisted." Mr. Coffman will share his thoughts onstage in a short interview after the screening.
- Sansho the Bailiff
- Sansho the Bailiff (1954) is one of the classics of world cinema. Sansho is about a medieval district governor of 11th century Japan who defied the cruel economic laws of his lord against the people. He is exiled. His wife, Tamaki, and young children, Zushio and Anju, are left to fend for themselves. The family set out to join him; they are kidnapped, separated, and lead terrible lives. As an adult, the son, Zushio, rises to a position of power. He must question the man he has become. There is grandeur and a sense of elegy in the stylized, powerful acting, the huge landscapes, and haunting Japanese music. As in Kurosawa films, the actors are dwarfed by the landscape. Winner of the 1954 Venice Silver Lion Award.
- Go
- Go (2001) by director Isao Yukisada won the best actor, best director, and the best supporting actress awards for the 2001 Japanese Academy Awards. With his spiked hair and swagger, Sugihara Lee could be any rebellious, without a clue Japanese kid. Too bad he isn't. He is a half Korean, half Japanese who was born in Japan--a country with many issues about Koreans. He is also a crack basketball player and a boxer. The latter skill comes in handy in fights with schoolmates. There is action, raw energy, in your face fight scenes, and a coming of age love story. Go will be followed by What Are You Anyways (2005). This 11 minute short is a hand drawn cartoon by a half Japanese American, Jeff Chiba Stearns, on his experience on growing up half Japanese in an upstate Washington lumber town.
- See's Candies Butterscotch sucker
- Goldfish Physedibles (lemon flavor)
- Rice crackers
- Sweet rice cracker
- Paper festival bookmark
- Coupons for local Japanese restaurants
- Paper folding fan
The event seemed well-attended. I guessed about 100-200 people attended each showing. It opened my eyes to issues of racism in Japan, and also the large numbers of Japanese descendants living in Hawaii. I learned a new term--howlies--a term used to describe whites on Hawaii. At the end of the event on Saturday night I thought I saw Doris Matsui, our congresswoman, leaving. We enjoyed all the films.
We want to see Yoji Yamada's other films now--especially The Twilight Samurai.
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