Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme 2018 Part IV: The Joy of Man's Desiring

There seems to be an increasing need among filmmakers to document a factual event on screen, trying to find the balance between not coming "too soon", but within enough of a time frame to ensure that it hasn't left the general public's consciousness, and thus unmarketable.

Having lived through the Great Hanshin Earthquake of 1995 in Kobe; and obviously in reaction to the Tohoku Earthquake and resulting tsunami three years previous, Masakazu Sugita's 2014 "The Joy of Man's Desiring" focuses on the destruction of one family following an unspecified earthquake.

Her house destroyed, twelve year-old Haruna struggles through the rubble to find her family. But her parents are dead and we are quickly moved to their funeral. Her injured pre-school younger brother, Shota, does not yet know of his parents' fate as he recovers in hospital. Now without their parents, arguments start among relatives as to who shall take them in, resulting in their aunt and uncle inviting them to live with them.

Starting a new life, Haruna strives to fit-in at her new school, while Shota blissfully goes about his carefree days, before gradually starting to wonder as to the whereabouts of his parents. Causing difficulties in their new family home between their aunt, uncle and cousin, the siblings runaway; their survival seemingly more a burden for others than a blessing.

Tackling a sensitive subject matter such as this requires a certain amount of tact from the filmmaker. Sugita's tactic is to take a child's perspective on events: a position that could make things even harder. The irresistibly cute Shota creates nothing but kawaii feelings for the audience, but also acts as the perfect foil for the horribly tragic events that know no sympathy. His ignorance to his situation, only heighten the inevitable heartbreak to be felt at some point in a film such as this.

But Sugita avoids too much over-sentimentality. Initially, none of their relatives seem keen to take them in, and those that do feel the strain of their being there. Their cousin, Katsutoshi, soon resents his kin: Shota inheriting his clothes; and more painfully for Haruna, her aunt sees her as the daughter she always wanted - it just took the death of her parents for her to get it.  

With their emotionally-absent uncle, over-doting aunt and resentful cousin, the pair are made to feel a burden, soon finding rejection and treated as someone else's problem. No doubt a comment from Sugita as to some reactions to those whose lives were destroyed in the aforementioned natural disasters. 

The deception of her younger brother taking its toll on Haruna - Shota waiting each day by the port for his parents to arrive by boat - the ending sees the pair runaway seemingly to find "home". This creates an awkward moment for the audience, as a twelve year-old girl breaks down in tears, though there is no other way it could be. Things are then left ambiguous as to what is next for the siblings, on both a metaphorical and literal open road.

A debut feature for Sugita, there are some bumpy moments along the way, but overall the filmmaking is strong. Long takes of slow movement allow pauses for audience reflection and the at-times-harsh soundtrack accompanying shots of Haruna feel reminiscent of the much more bumpy "Himizu", but effectively demonstrate her inner turmoil of fake smiles on the surface, hide an eruption of tears.

And remember, if you live in one of these following cities: Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Chester, Colchester, Derby, Dundee, Edinburgh, Exeter, Inverness, Kendal, Leicester, Lewes, Manchester, Nottingham, Sheffield or Stirling, sort your life out! Or, go and watch some of the films offered by the Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme 2018.

Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme 2018 Part III: Mumon: The Land of Stealth

I must say, I was a little apprehensive going into this one, what with such ridiculously high ratings on IMDB. And that scepticism proved justified in a film that is perhaps more a vehicle for idol Satoshi Ohno. Having never lived in Japan, but spent some time there, I can confirm that it will not take too long channel-surfing to find this boy's face on the idiot's lantern.

If I had to summarise "Mumon" in one word, it would be "silly." But the plot is rather complex, sort of. The land of Iga is surrounded by lands controlled by Nobunaga clan. As such, the twelve elder statesmen of Iga decide to put their in-fighting to one side in order to fight off the advances of invading forces. Though numerous deceptions along the way cause the Nobunaga clan to proceed with caution.

Offering the land to them, the ninjas of Iga build a castle for Nobunaga in order to earn good wages from the outsiders for the work. But once finished, they soon destroy the castle, prompting Nobunaga to take the land by force. But with no offer of payment for defending the land, the ninjas of Iga choose to flee, leaving Iga there for the taking.

But, persuaded by his strict wife, Mumon (Ohno), Iga's strongest ninja, shows that the people of Iga are not simply money-grabbing mercenaries, but slightly decent people. This leads to a series of dramatic, highly choreographed, cheaply-CGIed and down-right silly fight scenes with inevitable conclusions.

There are some things that "Mumon: The Land of Stealth" does well, but there are also many bad points. To start, the silliness is comical, but not always in the intended way. As such, it becomes a film that it is a little too difficult to take seriously. This sees some poor CGI in place for over-the-top moves and give the impression of a film that is just badly made, which in parts can be true. The ridiculous close-ups of Ohno while in battle are comic, but clearly idol work at its most blatant.

The serious messages that conclude of endless double-crossings, showing a peoples fuelled only by greed and selfish ends that will happily see their own children die, as such lose some of their impact when placed alongside the silliness. The strength of "Mumon" is in its depiction of a differing view of the ninja: a clan of soulless creatures that will only lift a finger if money is involved, lazy, conniving and deceitful - logical for those made famous for sneaking-up behind others and attacking them.

The fight scenes switch from the entertaining to the sketchy to the ludicrous, leaving the audience a little unsure as to which frame of mind to be in throughout. Somewhat disappointing from Yoshihiro Nakamura, director of "Fish Story".

When it works, "Mumon" is okay; when it's bad, it just looks a bit cheap and silly, and like the ninja themselves, perhaps not deserving of such a favourable reputation.

Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme 2018 Part II: Room for Let

Comedy films are always a tricky thing to get right. Over an extended time period, a little more substance is required than a simple stream of jokes that gradually becomes tiresome. Indeed, it is often non-comedy films that end up funnier than most comedies, using more subtle jokes, with the comedy as a side, rather than the main draw.

"Room for Let" is a comedy that treads the balance between constant humour and enough of a story to keep the whole thing held together, immediately throwing us into a world of eccentric characters. Straightaway, we are introduced to the whole cast in somewhat compromising situations through the gaze of Yumiko, who has come to visit Goro, a known "fixer" and jack-of-all-trades whom she is seeking for help to promote her new pottery exhibition. There being a room to let at this quirky little enclave on the outskirts of Osaka, for some unknown reason Yumiko chooses to occupy the vacancy and place herself in this mad world.

The more time we spend in this world, the more we see that Goro is a man who simply can't say "no" to the endless list of requests thrown his way, helping others at the hindrance of his own life. Eto is a hapless student with a seemingly endless stream of cash constantly popping by to ask Goro to sit another exam for him due to the fact they are of the same height. While others come to him to help forge deals, take deliveries, collect rent and have sex with their vivacious wife.

Yumiko's reason for moving in gradually becomes clear: her feelings for the ever-diligent Goro. But with his constant helping of others, he seems afraid of acting on his own feelings, leaving the obviously willing Yumiko to lie alone. Tired of the endless examinations and lengths he has to go for to help Eto, he chooses to run away to Beppu and help at a friend's parents' onsen, leaving it up to Yumiko to bring him back, before a somewhat abrupt ending as the chase is on.

Made in 1959, after the "golden age" of Japanese cinema, but before the approaching new wave, "Room for Let" is somewhat risqué for its era, with a lot of jokes about undergarments, quick slapstick and the closing scene of a man urinating openly into the Osaka skyline. Indeed, many jokes, such as Goro's accidentally leaning on his organ creating a false dramatic effect and the bar scene in which the pair in conversation continually move around the set to avoid eavesdroppers, have been seen repeatedly since and are comedy classics.

However, with many comedies of the era, as well as others, it has tendencies to descend into farce, with over-acting that hinders scenes and the film as a whole. Luckily, this doesn't happen too often, with enough of a serious edge to keep it on track.

Now, I have to admit, I'm not a man who watches many old films, like "Back to the Future" or "The Goonies" (hilarious!), but Yuzo Kawashima's "Room for Let" is a film that - 1950s BOARD-y humour aside - has enough to entertain a modern audience...Mainly as we spend much of our time in the Twenty-First Century pissing into the wind.

Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme 2018 Part I: Gukoroku - Traces of Sin

"What A, B, C and D say to members of their group is quite different from what they say to outsiders. Japanese find it very easy to make this kind of shift. In trying to get along with the person in front of them, they will say what that person wants to hear, even though they may say something entirely different to someone else. Outsiders can't help thinking that, because Japanese change their story depending on whom they are speaking with, they are liars."

- Juzo Itami speaking to Mark Schilling, 1997

Sometimes, the theme of the annual Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme (JFTFP (JFTFP!)) feels a little spurious. But this year's theme, (Un)true Colours: Secrets and Lies in Japanese Cinema, seems to be one that works, at least if you're Juzo Itami.

A theme such as this could come with countless examples of cinematic works, so the selection process must have been difficult to avoid selecting the obvious; keeping the programme varied and novel enough for a UK audience.

Having already seen "After School" and "The LongExcuse" - the latter a film that shows how one's hair will get worse the more you hide your grief - I chose a selection of this year's films that I was able to schedule in, what with many social activities coming up (larks!). Starting with Gukoroku - Traces of Sin, with screenwriter man Kosuke Mukai the man in attendance.

As ever, the JFTFP (JFTFP!) is starting off at the ICA in London, but remember, if you live in one of the following: Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Chester, Colchester, Derby, Dundee, Edinburgh, Exeter, Inverness, Kendal, Leicester, Lewes (Lewes?!), Manchester, Nottingham, Sheffield or Stirling, I feel sorry for you...

Gukoroku - Traces of Sin

Tanaka (Satoshi Tsumabuki) is a journalist, somewhat docile, but keen to re-open an old wound of a near-year-old murder case of a young family butchered in their home. With his sister, Mitsuko (Hikari Mitsushima), recently arrested for child-neglect - her three year-old daughter found malnourished - Tanaka's boss allows him to pursue his personal interest in the story to take his mind off his own personal problems. Though Tanaka's problems are even greater than his persona lets on.

After the scenario is established, the film splits into two separate story arks: Arranging meetings with people connected to the murdered couple, Tanaka conducts a series of interviews with various former university friends and acquaintances; while Mitsuko has numerous sessions with a psychiatrist to establish her mental state.

Adapted from Tokuro Nukui's novel of the same name (which I, of course, haven't read), "Gukoroku" originally used Akutagawa-style "In A Grove" confessionals from each of those interviewed, with director Kei Ishikawa and Mukai choosing to add in a lawyer who accompanies Tanaka and the psychiatrist character to give the testimonies more of a rounded story fitting for a film.

The film, therefore, has a lot going on, with the various monologues of the individuals acted out, each recalling different past memories. This leaves a lot of characters and scenarios, with stories within stories, creating quite a complex narrative for the audience to follow, particularly with two separate story arcs that gradually merge together. What starts as a murder mystery, gradually becomes a tale of Tanaka and Mitsuko's troubled upbringing, as well as an [**SPOILER ALERT**] incest sideline.

It's fair to say "Gukoroku" is a bleak film. None of the confessions look back on the past with fondness, but more recollections of individuals that caused them troubles earlier in their lives. Adultery, social deceptions, peer pressure, failed relations and, you heard, incest all feature. The tricky subject matter is handled fairly well, though perhaps not offering any revelations that haven't come before. Though in terms of fitting the Japan Foundation's central theme of deception, this is a banker, with cover-ups, and constant deceptions to gain a better social standing for oneself.

The cinematography from Polish Piotr Niemyjski is solid throughout, with Mitsuko's struggles in prison effectively showing her inner-torment. The soundtrack is also strong in what is a solid film without ever getting too close to "excellent" territory. It is interesting to see the Office Kitano ident before a film again...