16 April 2011

Far East Film Festival 2011: The Japanese Official Line-Up


The Far East Film Festival in Udine announced its official line-up this week. The Japanese selections include both mainstream award-winners and quirky genre and cult films.  Here are the trailers for this year's  films with links to reviews.


Cannonball Wedlock (婚前特急, 2011)


Confessions (告白, 2010)

  • a revenge drama directed by Tetsuya Nakashima
  • adapted from a 2009 bestselling novel by Kanae Minato
  • won Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Editor at the 34th Japanese Academy Awards
  • Italian Premiere
  • reviews by Mark Schilling, Virginie Sélavy and Niels Mattijs 

    The Lady Shogun and Her Men (大奥, 2010)

    • period drama by Fuminori Kaneko
    • adapted from the manga by Fumi Yoshinaga
    • International Festival Premiere 
    • Variety review

    The Lightning Tree (雷桜, 2010)

    • a mystery/romance directed by Ryuichi Hiroki
    • adapted from the novel by Mari Ueza
    • stars Masaki Okada and the luminous Yu Aoi
    • review by Mark Schilling
    • European Premiere

    Paranormal Activity 2: Tokyo Night (2010)

    • a horror film directed by Toshikazu Nagae 
    • International Festival Premiere 
    • review

    SABI♂ SABI♀ – Quirky Guys and Gals (2011)

    • an omnibus comedy directed by Yosuke Fujita (Fine, Totally Fine), Tomoko Matsunashi, Mipo Oh, Gen Sekiguchi
    • starring the always hilarious YoshiYoshi Arakawa
    • aka Groovy Guys, Groovy Girls
    • review by Mark Schilling
    • International Festival Premiere

    Seaside Motel ( シーサイドモーテル, 2010)

    • a black comedy directed by Kentaro Moriya
    • European Premiere

    Underwater Love (おんなの河童, 2011)

    • pink musical by Shinji Imaoka
    • a German-Japanese co-production
    • cinematography by Christopher Doyle
    • Jason Gray behind the scenes report
    • European Premiere

    Villain (悪人, 2010)

    • a dark, romantic drama by Sang-il Lee (Hula Girls)
    • won Best Actor, Best Actress,  Best Supporting Actor, and Best Supporting Actress at the Japanese Academy Awards
    • won Best Film, Best Director and Best Suporting Actor at the Kinema Jumpo Awards
    • won Best Film at the Mainichi Film Awards
    • European Premiere 
    • JFilm Pow-Wow Review

    Wandering Home (酔いがさめたら、うちに帰ろう, 2010)


    Yakuza Weapon (極道兵器, 2011)

    • a violent action-comedy co-directed by Yudai Yamaguchi and Tak Sakaguchi
    • based on the Ken Ishikawa manga
    • read more about the film
    • European Premiere