On a side note (despite the fact I've hardly started), the Cinema Museum is a really interesting place. It's the former Lambeth Workhouse, better known as the childhood residence of Charlie Caplin. Appears to be some really interesting memorabilia there and the volunteers seem pretty invested in the place. I should definitely keep an eye on upcoming event. Only problem, it's slightly out of the way.
Last year, I saw We Don't Care About Music Anyway when the Zipangu Fest was held at the ICA. I loved it so much, as can be seen by this handy blog entry from back in May. This year I figured I would attend a couple of segments, the Beyond Anime section (returning for its third year and featuring two mid-length works ... and a bonus short film, due to technical problems on the opening night) and the closing film (Saudade).
[Note: It is around seven weeks since I attending these screenings. If my memories of details are vague, ... please forgive me. Thanks.]
Encounters (エンカウンターズ)
An exuberant one-man labour-of-love defies all expectations!
[Takashi Iitsuka - 30 minutes - HD - 2011 - Action, Animation]
Puppets. Action figures. Childhood memories, right. I had a Thunderbirds duvet and received a Captain Scarlet airbase for Christmas when I was a kid. Even made a paper-mache Tracey Island. Ah, Blue Peter. Iitsuka takes those childhood memories and uses them (with his 'Super Organic Battle Action' technique) to make a wonderfully inventive 30 minutes action flick. Soon you'll forget that you're watching action figures and puppets moving around on wires, as the nuances of this big hearted story of two guys, their adopted pooch, monsters and the obligatory evil scientist takes over. I won't say much more about the plot, as it's definitely worth trying to watch this film without knowing too much. Just enjoy the mad ride.
Takashi Iitsuka introduced the film and stayed for a question and answer session following the Beyond Anime screenings.
Review:
* Nishikata Film Review
The Great Rabbit (グレートラビット)
A magical hand-drawn animation that is also a profound conundrum.
[Atsushi Wada - 7 minutes - HD - 2012 - Animation]
"If you believe in the Rabbit, you'll believe in anything. If you don't believe in the Rabbit, it means that you wouldn't believe anything."
Apparently the Great Rabbit won the Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival. It really didn't do much for me. It's surreal, sure ... but it didn't make me feel anything.
Review:
* Nishikata Film Review
Midori-ko (緑子)
A university researcher protects a human/vegetable hybrid in a dystopic dark fantasy that took ten years to complete.
[Keita Kurosaka - 55 minutes - HD - 2010 - Animation]
It's the dystopian future. That place belonging to Orwell and Huxley. That time when disaster or greed has taken humanity to the edge. That canvas upon which we pour all of our deepest fears. In Midori-ko, the world is facing chronic food shortages. A group of scientists strive to create the perfect super-food. They create an edible creature. It escapes from the laboratory and is rescued by a young researcher named Midori.
This film is truly beautiful. Brightly coloured crayon drawings introduce us to a child called Midori, who decides that she cannot eat animals. She grows up. The world changes. The bright colours are replaced by shadows. Yet more beautiful hand-drawn artwork. Monsters strive to save humanity, as you can imagine ... this film questions whether that humanity is worth saving or whether it has already consumed itself.
Midori-ko is a really interesting film. Slow paced, ... it's a film that washes over you and leaves you with deep questions. The relationship between Midori and the creature develops slowly, yet conflicts remain within the girl ... despite her best efforts to protect the creature.
The best description I've seen describes this film as a 'paranoid fairy-tale'. I honestly can't better that, as it's a beautiful phase for our times - our world, where everyone watches their backs and cameras watch the backs of everyone.
Reviews:
* J-film pow-wow
* Nishikata Film Review
Saudade (サウダーヂ)
A vivid and often vivacious portrait of small-town dreams and prejudices in the provincial multi-ethnic melting pot of Kofu.
[Katsuya Tomita - 167 minutes - 35mm - 2011 - Drama]
Saudade was another interesting choice to close the 2012 Zipangu Fest. It captures the nuances of small town life perfectly, although (at two and a half hours plus) it feels a little too unfocussed for its own good at times.
Katsuya Tomita (director) and Toranosuke Aizawa (scriptwriter) introduced the film and stayed for a question and answer session.
Reviews:
* Hollywood Reporter
Festival reviews:
* Mostly Film
* Rhythm Circus
* International Review
My Zipangu Fest poster, signed by Takashi Iitsuka (Encounters), Katsuya Tomita and Toranosuke Aizawa (Saudade)
