One with Japan: Tales of survivors told thorough cinema

A scene from “Homeland”

The annual Eiga Sai will kick off this July in celebration of the Philippine-Japan Friendship Month (PJFM).

Aimed towards Filipinos to foster interest in Japanese art and culture, Eiga Sai (meaning movie festival in Nihongo) is an event organized by the Japanese embassy, Japan Foundation Manila and the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP).

The festival’s theme revolves around family, a source of strength to both Filipinos and the Japanese. Both cultures place immense value on family above all else, a similarity that calls to be celebrated and strengthened.

During a press conference, Yukie Mitomi, assistant director of Japan foundation, said this year’s festival involves films that highlight Japan’s “tragic history of natural disaster,” to which a lot of Filipinos can relate.

Yukie Mitomi (Photo by Rowena Tan)

“I have seen a lot of natural disaster in the Philippines, starting from ‘Ondoy’ in 2009 and the most recent ‘Yolanda’ in 2013. My home country was also devastated by an earthquake which occurred in 2011. And that’s when we realize that in times of difficulties, people value family,” she said.

Mitomi shared that some of the films were created immediately after the Great East Japan Earthquake that happened in 2011.

“They tell the story of how Japan responded after the disaster,” she said.

Mitomi hopes that Filipino will find inspiration in the films “Building family ties results in a strong nation,” she said.

The festival will also include a theater project courtesy of the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA), an exhibit of J-pop anime and a sing and dance competition.

Among the films that will be screened at Eiga Sai are “Homeland,” “Like Father, Like Son,” “Fly, Dakota, Fly,” “Reunion,” “Hearts Together,” “A Story Of Yonosuke,” “The Kirishima Thing,” “Momoiro Sora O,” “Hospitalite,” “Tug Of War!” “Robo-G,” “Until The Break Of Dawn,” “Tamako In Moratorium,” “Casting Blossoms In The Sky,” “Symphony In August,” “Things Left Behind” and “Wolf Children.”

Eiga Sai will run from July 4 to 13 at the Shangri-La plaza Cineplex.

One with Japan: Tales of survivors told thorough cinema

Source: Mb.com.ph (June 27, 2014 at 05:32PM)

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