SUMMER MOVIE SCREENINGS at the Japan Foundation

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Location:
The Japan Foundation, Toronto [Event Hall]
131 Bloor Street West, 2nd Floor
Toronto, ON
info@jftor.org, 416-966-1600
www.jftor.org

Admission: Free

*RSVP Required: www.jftor.org/whatson/rsvp or 416-966-1600 x102
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Wednesday, August 12 at 7 pm (doors open 6:30 pm)
FIRE AND WATER - A DREAM FOR KABUL



Dir. Philippe Baylaucq
81 minutes, 2008 [G]
Documentary/Canada
Japanese and English subtitles
*For more information, please visit the InformAction website.

Synopsis:
In 2001, Haruhiro Shiratori lost his only child in the attacks on the World Trade Center . Instead of isolating himself in grief, he decided to meet the Afghan people and help them, to prevent such attacks from happening again. Over four years and on three continents, Philippe Baylaucq filmed the quest of this Japanese Don Quixote who dreamed of building a cultural centre for the children of Kabul . The double story of a humanist project ambushed by problems and a father seeking reconciliation with his dead son.

Winner of the Award for Outstanding Canadian Documentary at ReelWorld Film Festival 2009, Toronto .
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Thursday, August 13 at 7 pm (doors open 6:30 pm)
POTTERS AT WORK



Dir. Marty Gross
29 minutes, 1977 [G]
Documentary/Canada
No dialogue
*For more information, please visit the Marty Gross Productions website.

Synopsis:
Filmed in two traditional pottery making villages on the island of Kyushu in Southern Japan, this film presents the workshops of Shigeki Sakamoto in Onda and Kumao Ohta in Koishibara. Filmed with almost no dialogue, the visuals of Potters at Work are enhanced by a mesmerizing soundtrack of ambient sounds- the crackling flames of a kiln, the whirring of a wheel, the chirping of insects- that draws the viewer into the world of these master artisans. Broadcast on PBS and around the world, Potters at Work has won multiple awards and much critical acclaim. Vie des Arts magazine praises this unique documentary, saying, "Silence, time, patience, concentration; four elements elevate the ritual of art to the transcendent. Their convergence attains here the pinnacle of documentary art."

Screening with:
WE'RE THE PROFESSIONALS! Short Documentaries
SAKE MAKING EXPERT (2001; 10 minutes) and GARDENER (2000; 10 minutes)
Japanese with English voice-over and subtitles

Synopsis:
How do you become a professional gardener? Will trellis-building novice Nagai’s inability to tie a decent knot keep him from achieving his dreams? What certification do you need to become a producer of gourmet sake? How much water does rice need to absorb before it can be fermented into a delicious beverage? Learn the answers to these questions-and more-in two short educational films produced by JAMCO and the Japan Foundation!
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Wednesday, August 19 at 7 pm (doors open 6:30 pm)
ORIUME



Dir. Hisako Matsui
120 minutes, 2002 [PG]
Starring Mieko Harada, Kazuko Yoshiyuki
Japanese with English subtitles

Synopsis:
With two children, a part-time job, and a husband who is always working, Tomoe (Harada) has a lot on her plate. When her mother-in-law, Masako (Yoshiyuki), can no longer live alone, Tomoe invites her to come live with the family, hoping for some extra help around the house. However, things don’t go as planned: Masako begins to exhibit symptoms of Alzheimer’s, her behavior becoming erratic and even violent at times. How Tomoe and her family deal with this tragic development is only part of the story- the other part offers a heartbreaking glimpse into Masako’s suffering as the world she knows becomes an increasingly confusing and frightening place. Examining the family’s struggle to adjust to Masako’s condition, and create a more comfortable world for her, Oriume offers hope for those who have been affected, directly or indirectly, by this disease.

The Japan Foundation, Toronto would like to thank InformAction, The National Film Board of Canada, Mr. Marty Gross, JAMCO and Essen Communications for their generous support.