japanese films – Page 2 – ALLIANCE OF WOMEN FILM JOURNALISTS

RENOIR (Cannes FF 2025) – Review by Diane Carson

May 10, 2025May 24, 2025 Diane Carson Cannes FF 2025, Chie Hayakawa, Hirokazu Kore-eda, japanese films, Renoir, Yui Suzuki

As charmingly impressionist in style as its title Renoir suggests, writer/director Chie Hayakawa interprets the world through eleven-year-old Fuki’s eyes. A rambunctious, bright girl, Fuki perceptively watches her mother Utako Okita wrestling with a busy, stressed life. That results primarily from the imminent death of husband Keiji, Fuki’s father, ill with terminal cancer. With Utako preoccupied with Keiji and preparations for his funeral, Fuki enjoys the time and has the energy to explore her 1987 Tokyo community at leisure with schoolmates, a neighbor, her mother’s friend, and others with whom she comes into contact in the course of daily life.

Reviews

GHOST CAT ANZU – Review by Leslie Combemale

November 6, 2024 Leslie Combemale Akashi Imashiro, anime, Ghost Cat Anzu, japanese films, manga, Mirai Moriyama, Nobuhiro Yamashita, rotoscope animation, Yôko Kuno

The name of this anime feature film is Ghost Cat Anzu, which for any cat lovers out there, sounds compelling. But If you’re expecting a cute kitty on the order of Jiji, the black cat in Kiki’s Delivery Service, you’ll be disappointed. On the other hand, if you are aware of the Manga series written and illustrated by Akashi Imashiro, you might be happily surprised by the creative design and expansion upon the stories offered in the film.

Movie of the Week

MOVIE OF THE WEEK October 25, 2024: BLACK BOX DIARIES

October 20, 2024October 19, 2024 Jennifer Merin #metoo, autobiography, Black Box Diaries, documentary, japanese films, Noriyuki Yamaguchi, sex crime laws, Shinzo Abe, Shiori Ito

Black Box Diaries — Japanese journalist Shiori Ito’s documentary about her investigation into her own traumatic sexual assault — is as inspiring as it is harrowing. With determination, focus, and persistence, she becomes a virtual one-woman #MeToo movement, refusing to back down or give up until the flawed Japanese legal system does its job and her rapist faces consequences for his actions, no matter how many friends he has in high places.

Reviews

BLACK BOX DIARIES – Review by Loren King

October 18, 2024October 19, 2024 Loren King #metoo, autobiography, Black Box Diaries, documentary, japanese films, Noriyuki Yamaguchi, sex crime laws, Shinzo Abe, Shiori Ito

Combining aspects of criminal investigation, police procedural, and a deeply personal account of her sexual assault at the dawn of the #MeToo movement, Japanese journalist Shiori Ito’s extraordinary verite documentary “Black Box Diaries” succeeds as an expose by any standard. That it is also Ito’s personal manifesto and authentic reckoning makes this unique autobiographical documentary even more of a revelation.

Festivals Reviews

HAPPYEND (NYFF 2024) – Review by Diane Carson

October 16, 2024September 30, 2025 Diane Carson AI surveillance, Happyend, japanese films, Neo Sora, nyff, NYFF 2024, Tokyo high school

Japanese writer/director Neo Sora’s Happyend chronicles high school friends, on graduation eve, confronting retaliation for a silly prank that goes awry. Taking advantage of an intolerant, hierarchical environment, the principal introduces AI surveillance that enrages students. Tension builds, confrontations escalate, and each student must decide what values will guide significant decisions for their future advancement. Set in a near-future Tokyo high school, it is anchored primarily in the perspective of Kou, a thoughtful student, who has bonded with best friend Yuta, both aspiring DJs. Their world is circumscribed by periodic earthquake sirens and the intrusive, all-encompassing visual scrutiny that follows the misguided targeting of the authoritative principal’s beloved, bright yellow sports car.

Reviews

MOVING – Review by Diane Carson

September 11, 2024September 13, 2024 Diane Carson 4K restoration, japanese films, Moving, Shinji Somai, Toyomichi Kurita

Occasionally, an international film feels directly relevant to every country even three decades after its initial release. That’s the case with Japanese director Shinji Somai’s Moving which recounts the surprising and often inappropriate reactions of vivacious, outspoken eleven-year-old Renko Urushiba upon learning her mother and father are separating. Set in Kyoto, the emotional distress Ren expresses is universal. That is not to say that Ren (as she’s called) corresponds in any conventional way to clichéd expectations.

Reviews

TAMALA 2010: A PUNK CAT IN SPACE – Review by Diane Carson

August 6, 2024August 12, 2024 awfj-admin 2K restoration, animation, japanese films, t.o.L., Tamala 2010: A Punk Cat in Space, trees of Life

Tamala 2010: A Punk Cat in Space follows a multi-universe, time traveler. Tamala introduces herself in 1436 Verona, Cat Earth, before a jump to 2010 Meguro City, Tokyo, and, later, 2032 Shanghai, China. Stories of the elusive cat Tatla, symbol of the ancient cult of Minerva, offer tantalizing ideas as Tamala, perhaps Tatla’s reincarnation, seeks her real mother. Through pouring rain and surrealistic dreams, cats and dogs fight on Planet Q, as officials impose martial law in Hate City. Elsewhere, Tamala’s seductive eyes grace a multitude of products in an unabashed capitalist critique: Colossal Conglomerate Catty & Co. controls 96.725% of the world GDP.

Reviews

RYUICHI SAKAMOTO: OPUS – Review by Diane Carson

April 18, 2024April 20, 2024 Diane Carson japanese films, music documentary, Neo Sora, Ryuichi Sakamoto | Opus, Yellow Magic Orchestra

The iconic Japanese composer, pianist, and actor Ryuichi Sakamoto comes to vivid life in an exquisite documentary Ryuichi Sakamoto | Opus. Directed by Sakamoto’s son, Neo Sora, Ryuichi plays twenty of his compositions, including the title Opus plus Lack of Love, Solitude, The Sheltering Sky, and a new arrangement of Tong Poo. That’s it: minimalist and extraordinary.

Reviews

PERFECT DAYS – Review by Diane Carson

February 7, 2024February 15, 2024 Diane Carson japanese films, koji Yakusho, Perfect Days, Takuma Takasaki, wim wenders, Yasujiro Ozu

Director Wim Wenders strikes gold when he creates an engaging character of integrity and strength, one who doesn’t parade his ego to the world, one who wears his history well, with restraint, without sentimentality, and yet with profound, suppressed pain. This individual takes pride in the most unglamorous job and cherishes the smallest details of his life. Perfect Days profiles a fascinating Tokyo toilet cleaner named Hirayama.

Festivals Reviews

BLACK BOX DIARIES (Sundance FF 2024) – Review by Leslie Combemale

January 20, 2024January 21, 2024 Leslie Combemale Black Box Diaries, japanese films, Noriyuki Yamaguchi, rape, sexual abuse, Shiori Ito, Sundance FF 2024

In her documentary directorial debut, Japanese journalist Shiori Ito chronicles the aftermath of her own sexual assault, using her notes, secret recordings, first person videos and footage from the time. Her film is an indictment of the continued societal misogyny and antiquated judicial system in Japan, and led to a landmark case that might, at last, shift perception away from victim shaming and tacit acceptance of violence towards women by men in power.