Japanese Summer

There were two significant film series focusing on Japanese films this past summer and a few other screenings. All told, I saw 19 Japanese language films in less than four months at three different venues between June and September.

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At the PFA, they had a two month series titled Japanese Divas. There were 23 films (by my count) in the series but I had seen several of them before. In fact, I saw many of them in the Summer of 2010 at New People/Viz. The only film I missed which I had not previously seen was Immortal Love (1961; directed by Keisuke Kinoshita).

I ended up seeing 11 films.

Odd Obsession starring Machiko Kyo & Tatsuya Nakadai; directed by Kon Ichikawa; Japanese with subtitles; (1959)
Dragnet Girl starring Kinuyo Tanaka; directed by Yasujirō Ozu; silent with intertitles; live piano accompaniment by Judith Rosenberg; (1933)
Twenty-Four Eyes starring Hideko Takamine; directed by Keisuke Kinoshita; Japanese with subtitles; (1954)
Carmen Comes Home starring Hideko Takamine; directed by Keisuke Kinoshita; Japanese with subtitles; (1951)
When a Woman Ascends the Stairs starring Hideko Takamine & Tatsuya Nakadai; directed by Mikio Naruse; Japanese with subtitles; (1960)
Woman of Tokyo starring Yoshiko Okada; directed by Yasujirō Ozu; silent with intertitles; live piano accompaniment by Judith Rosenberg; (1933)
A Hen in the Wind starring Kinuyo Tanaka; directed by Yasujirō Ozu; Japanese with subtitles; (1948)
The Face of Another starring Machiko Kyo & Tatsuya Nakadai; directed by Hiroshi Teshigahara; Japanese with subtitles; (1966)
Equinox Flower starring Kinuyo Tanaka; directed by Yasujirō Ozu; Japanese with subtitles; (1958)
A Wife Confesses starring Ayako Wakao; directed by Yasuzo Masumura; Japanese with subtitles; (1961)
Seisaku’s Wife starring Ayako Wakao; directed by Yasuzo Masumura; Japanese with subtitles; (1965)

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Over at New People/Viz, the reprised the Summer 2010 success and had a Japanse Classics series. From late June through August, they screened ten films. Again, I had seen some of the films in the series so I skipped those and saw five films for the first time. Actually, I forgot that I had seen Vengeance is Mine in late 2008 at the PFA's Cinema Japan series.

The Woman in the Dunes starring Kiyoko Kishida; directed by Hiroshi Teshigawara; Japanese with subtitles; (1964)
The Flavor of Green Tea Over Rice starring Shin Saburi & Michiyo Kogure; directed by Yasujirō Ozu; Japanese with subtitles; (1952)
Good Morning with Chishû Ryû; directed by Yasujirō Ozu; Japanese with subtitles; (1959)
Vengeance is Mine starring Ken Ogata; directed Shôhei Imamura; Japanese with subtitles; (1979)
The Pornographers; directed Shôhei Imamura; Japanese with subtitles; (1966)

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Although not officially part of the Japanese Divas series, PFA screened The Makioka Sisters twice during the series.

The Makioka Sisters starring Keiko Kishi, Yoshiko Sakuma, Sayuri Yoshinaga & Yuko Kotegawa; directed by Kon Ichikwawa; Japanese with subtitles; (1983)

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Finally, the Roxie screened two newer flms by Sion Sono in September.

Love Exposure starring Takahiro Nishijima, Hikari Mitsushima and Sakura Ando; directed by Sion Sono; Japanese with subtitles; (2008) - Official Website
Cold Fish starring Mitsuru Fukikoshi, Denden & Asuka Kurosawa; directed by Sion Sono; Japanese with subtitles; (2010) - Official Website

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I know I should say a few words on at least some of the films but I'll postpone that to a later date. My procrastination has gotten the better of me again...