Former Uruguayan President José Mujica is a modest man. He gives 90% of his salary to the poor and notoriously (or admirably, depending on one’s perspective) drove a busted Volkswagen during his
Keep ReadingCome Back Anytime recreates a welcome atmosphere of warmth and ambiance with its portrait of Bizentei ramen shop.
Keep Reading"They felt forgotten by the government and had resigned themselves to living a half-life in a changed landscape,” said Bell. “Many of them said to me, ‘Old age will get me before
Keep ReadingNever-Ending Man: Hayao Miyazaki (Japan, 70 min.) Dir. Kaku Arakawa “It’s an insult to life,” mutters filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki to a flabbergasted colleague in Never-Ending Man. The legendary Japanese animator makes the terse
Keep ReadingRyuichi Sakamoto: Coda (Japan/USA, 100 min.) Dir. Stephen Schible Ryuichi Sakamoto: Coda sings with a whisper. This quiet and contemplative film offers a portrait in pianissimo of Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto. The 66-year-old
Keep ReadingThis Zen-like doc from Kensei Fushihara offers a relaxed look at Shuichi Tsubata, who was 90 years old at the time of filming but passed away in 2015.
Keep ReadingUkiyo-E Heroes (Japan, 96 minutes) Directed by Toru Tokikowa Programme: Made in Japan (World Premiere) The narrative of Ukiyo-E Heroes is amply covered in the first ten minutes of Toru Tokikowa’s
Keep ReadingRyuichi Hirokawa: Human Battlefield Japan, 99 minutes Dir. Saburo Hasegawa Programme: Made in Japan, (Canadian Premiere.) From Palestinian refugee camps, to the Chernobyl and Fukushima nuclear disasters, veteran Japanese photojournalist Ryuchi
Keep ReadingLiving the Game (Japan, 88 minutes) Dir. Takao Gotsu Programme: Magnificent Obsessions (International Premiere) A documentary about champions who sit and twiddle their thumbs and fingers, Living the Game explores the
Keep ReadingA Room of Her Own: Rai Naito and Light (Japan, 87 minutes) Dir. Yuko Nakamura Programme: Made in Japan (North American Premiere) An art film, an anxiety therapy diary and a
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