- Barbara Kado said, during her introduction on opening night, the crowd had set a new attendance record this year
- The 2013 opening night goodie bag (small #3 brown paper shopping bag w/handle and sticker on front) contained:
- Cheez-Its (1.5 oz.)
- Cracker Jacks (1.25 oz.)
- Famous Amos Chocalate Chip Cookies (2 oz.)
- Quaker Chewy Granola Bar - Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip (0.84 oz.)
- Michaels Blank Note Cards w/envelopes, 6 pc. 3.75"x5", style "Modern Seasons"
- 2 x Kopiko coffee confectionary (4g)
- Handbill announcing "Chili's is proud to support Sacramento Japanese United Methodist Church's 'Stop Hunger Now' project Give Back Event on July 24th from 11:00-10:00 p.m..
- 9th Annual Sacramento Japanese Film Festival bookmark w/short multi-colored, sparkly yarn tassle...the bookmark contains a collage of images from the seven movies
- Seems like the festival goodie bag committee "Costco'd It" for this year...no rice crackers, candies with Japanese paper buttons, local Japanese restaurant coupons, and so forth
- Not a bad thing...just seems more generic than previous years...especially the first year we attended, when the bags had origami!
- Probably a result of the increased attendance
- One handout from the event:
- Traditional Japanese Carpentry, since 1977
- Tea houses * Shoji/Fusuma Screens * Tansu Chests * Fences - Gates * Ofuro Hot Baths
- David Putnam Artist - Craftsman
- 916-335-9269 davidhputnam@gmail.com
- Looks like a good lead, if interested!
- No zombie walk on Friday evening...apparently it will occur Saturday evening, July 13
- Dawn and I decided to skip "13 Assassins"...we saw it a year or two ago, and it's bloody enough that we decided to skip.
Movies
- HARU’S JOURNEY: "A cantankerous grandfather and his teenage granddaughter take to the road to find a new life and home with one of the old man’s siblings. 77 years old legendary actor, Tatsuya Nakadai, and Eri Tokunaga give stunning performances as grandfather Tadao and granddaughter Haru. Tadao hasn’t seen his brothers and sister for years, and Haru has just lost her job as a cafeteria worker in the local school. The movie reveals that Tadao wasn’t the greatest of brothers. Old resentments, sibling rivalries, and hurt pride surface in the visits to their homes. The sister is mainly interested in employing Haru in her small hotel. Another brother says that he has no room and has to consider his position in the community. Haru’s Journey is a story of brothers and a sister many years later and a portrayal of growing old in present day Japan."
- SPOILERS ALERT
- Haru runs kind of awkwardly...perhaps because of the heavy pack she carries?
- The movie's opening theme and variations reminded both of us "An American Tail"'s song "Somewhere Out There"...
- Q&A on the film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgjJHgH1DJI
- Haru's hot tub bath looked so refreshing
- I liked the running joke where each brother remarks, "It's cold" when their companion opens the screen to the outside to air out the living quarters
- Very emotional scene with Haru and her father
- A number of scenes done in one take...sort of took my breath away to realize they captured it in one go
- For example, the scene where Haru's father returns ... so much emotion without saying a word
- Or: one of the final scenes where Haru and Tadao slurp up soba noodles for minutes on end...how many takes could one do this?
- Some great cinematography of Tadao and Nabuko framed with the mother horse and her foal
- I felt a bit distracted watching it, as we had come from pizza and beer about 2 hours earlier, and I felt a bit thirsty
- I thought, "How you feel physically makes a difference in how you perceive a movie." I wonder if movie reviewers standardize their pre-movie dietary regimen?
- Lots of food shown during the movie...I wanted to go home and drink some hot green tea
- A tragic backstory and ending, with lots of unanswered questions
- Pride, unresolved anger, crime, and hard of heart: all these things keep Tadao's siblings from connecting with him and offering him their home
- The older actors displayed the most poignant emotions as Tadao leaves: Shigeo and Keiko (his older brother's home) and Shigeko (sister)...they seem to sincerely grieve
- I laughed as Tadao beat on Michio after they started acting violent like juveniles : o )
- Who is to blame, if anyone? The root of the movie lies with forgiveness and unresolved emotions...Haru's mother kills herself after she realizes Shinichi will not return and will never forgive her cuckolding him. Tragic for everyone.
- I found the back and forth between the older siblings comical...refreshing to see such august actors acting out the same human emotions
- The movie gives every indication Haru will end up all right...the peaceful and stable relationship of Shinichi and Nabuko seems a stark contrast to her initial home and the dysfunctional homes of Tadao's siblings
- The movie plods a bit, though, intentionally...lots of shots of people walking, waiting, and so forth
- It finishes strong; Dawn choked up and I found myself moved as well
- The grandfather reminded me of Michael Caine
- EVERY NIGHT DREAMS: "A single mother, Omitsu (Sumiko Kurishima), works hard in a waterfront Tokyo bar to ensure a better future for her young son. Her husband, Mizuhara (Tatsuo Saito), who abandoned the family for three years returns. Mizuhara wants to be a better father and husband, but he has difficulties finding a job in depression Japan. Difficulties ensue. Naruse is famous for his portrayal of strong women who face hard situations, domestic unease, and display calm in the face of dire circumstances. Omitsu says to her husband, “You’ll never survive with such a faint heart.”"
- The little boy, if alive, would be in his 80's and 90's, today
- A LETTER TO MOMO: "Momo and her mother leave Tokyo for a small island after Momo’s father’s accidental death. Momo is burdened by guilt. Her last words to her father before he died was an argument over a broken promise. Momo is burdened by guilt. The almost totally hand drawn anime and the absence of computer graphic techniques create remarkable individuality in the characters, unparalleled beauty in the Japanese scenery, and remarkable detail of objects and background. Studio Ghibli’s A Letter to Momo is a poignant coming of age story of growing up and coming to terms with oneself. There are also the requisite Japanese spirits, the Yokai, who help Momo and reveal themselves only to her. 2012 Asian Pacific Screen Award, Best Animated Feature Film."
- The little monster creeped me out...the lack of memory obscured predictability about whether he was truly violent or peaceful...he reminded me of Gollum
- Dawn liked the end monster with the googly eyes, which protected them as they crossed the bridge
- Dawn liked the clothing style of Momo's mother
- One of my favorites from the weekend
- THE KNOT: "Asako (Mukku Akazawa) is married to a company man; Keisuke (Junichi Kawamoto) is co-owner of a laundry shop with his wife. Fourteen years ago, Asako was a student and Keisuke was a junior high school teacher who took advantage of her. Conflicts from the past arise when their paths cross. Asako’s first reaction is anger. Her reputation was damaged and the townspeople still gossip. Was it love or was she a victim of a crime? Old obsessions awaken, and the situation spins out of control. The superb acting by the cast and the depiction of small town Japanese life with its daily routines and below the surface tensions are memorable. There is also erotic tension, remorse, obsessive longing, and the desire of Asako and Keisuke to have a future without hurting others."
- Every year, the film committee seems to choose one "WTF" film...this is this year's WTF film
- Edgy, taboo-confronting movie
- Sitting in the theater, I noticed only a couple of people walk out
- That said, the tension/awkwardness in the air seemed palpable
- I'll probably never forget this film; will I remember the others? Something to consider
- 13 ASSASSINS: "It’s 1844 during the last days of feudal Japan and the samurai. Master swordsman and samurai, Shinzaemon Shimada (Koji Yaskusho) is appointed to kill Lord Naritsuga (Goro Inagaki) a sociopath and half-brother to the ruling Shogun. Reminiscent of Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai, Shimada chooses 11 samurai and one wanna-be samurai to join forces with him. An ambush is planned. The monumental battle of 13 samurai against a force of over 200 men takes place. The epic fight is impressive with carnage, excellent timing, and over-the-top swordplay. Takashi Miike’s formula of the noble few versus the evil many is a good fit with the ancient samurai ethic of duty and moral responsibility. Winner of 4 Japanese Academy Awards in 2011."
- Skipped; we saw it a year or two ago
- KEY OF LIFE: "After a botched up suicide attempt, talentless actor, Sakurai (Masato Sakai) goes to a bath house to clean up. Hired killer, Kondo (Teruki Kagawa) slips on a bar of soap at the same bath house and suffers amnesia, giving Sakurai the opportunity to switch identities. Sakurai is attracted to Kondo’s watch and hasn’t a clue to the latter’s identity. Kanae (Ryoko Hirosue) is a driven magazine editor with no man in her life. She tells surprised co-workers that she is getting married in two months. Kanae becomes interested in Kondo, the amnesiac, who believes that he is Sakurai. First rate comedy with close calls, crazy twists, confusion and dead pan acting. 2012 Shanghai International Film Festival winner for Best Screenplay."
- My favorite film
- Funny
- MRS. JUDO: BE STRONG, BE GENTLE, BE BEAUTIFUL: "Born in 1913 in Tokyo, Keiko Fukuda was the granddaughter of a Meiji era samurai warrior and a juijitsu master. Her grandfather was the sensei (teacher) of Jigoro Kano, the founder of judo that is practiced today. Jigoro Kano, in turn, was the teacher of Keiko Fukuda, the first and only woman, awarded the highest honor in judo – the 10th degree black belt. Her choices were hard; she chose judo over marriage and persevered on her life path. After WWII, she moved to San Francisco, taught Judo, and founded a judo dojo (studio). Fukuda san taught that the essence of judo is a process of being which involves the inner spirit. Mrs. Judo is documented with archival photos, film, and interviews. Yuriko Romer will be on stage at the Crest. Winner of the 2013 Moscow Film Festival Jury Award for Best Documentary."
- A crowd favorite...great movie
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