JAPAN SOCIETY ANNOUNCES MAY SCREENING EVENTS
The Film Desk Presents Sans Soleil on 35mm Import in Partnership with The Film Desk’s Book Launch of Chris Marker’s 1982 photo essay Le Dépays
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North American Premiere of Takashi Miike’s Lumberjack the Monster in Partnership with the Tribeca Festival’s Escape from Tribeca
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Members-Only Screening and Reception featuring Ramen Western Tampopo in Honor of Japan Society’s 117th Birthday
Japan Society, a 116-year-old nonprofit organization bridging the U.S. and Japan, today announced it will host three special screenings in May spanning classic Japanese cinema, a lauded documentary, and a major North American premiere. Japan Society is a storied institution that has presented Japanese art and culture for over a century, and its robust Film Program presents over 60 screenings from the silent era through to contemporary cinema all across the year.
Japan Society’s May events begin on May 1 with French filmmaker Chris Marker’s influential 1983 documentary Sans Soleil presented on rare imported 35mm. Driven by the desire to “capture life in the process of becoming history,” Marker traveled the globe and made a sprawling body of work that ruminates on the nature of memory and time. Of the several films he made in Japan, Sans Soleil remains the late director’s greatest achievement. An unnamed woman narrates the poetic letters and philosophical reflections of an invisible world traveler accompanied by footage of Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, Iceland, Paris, San Francisco, and, most significantly, Tokyo—a city whose people, streets, malls, and temples inspire the traveler’s richest observations. This event is presented with film distributor and book publisher The Film Desk to celebrate the launch of the first English language edition of Chris Marker’s 1982 photo essay Le Dépays—a collection of Marker’s black-and-white photography in Japan tracing themes similar to Sans Soleil. The screening will be introduced by editor Sadie Starnes. Advance copies of Le Dépays will be available for purchase before and after the screening.
Japan Society then celebrates iconoclastic Japanese director Takashi Miike with the North American Premiere of Lumberjack the Monster on May 6. Opening in Japanese theaters just this past December, Lumberjack the Monster delivers the director’s trademark horror and humor in a cat-and-mouse chase between a serial killer and a psychopathic lawyer hot on his trail. Lumberjack the Monster is presented together with the upcoming Tribeca Festival’s Escape from Tribeca program in honor of the film’s forthcoming Netflix release. It will include a pre-screening reception featuring beverages generously donated by Sapporo-Stone Brewing and Brooklyn Kura.
Lastly, Japan Society will celebrate its 117th birthday with a members-only screening and reception on May 19 featuring Juzo Itami’s Tampopo, an essential foodie fever dream. Tampopo is an eclectic film about a woman’s journey to save her ramen shop featuring an eccentric all-star cast including a young Koji Yakusho and Ken Watanabe. Tampopo will conclude with a birthday reception featuring cupcakes, sparkling wine, and beverages generously donated by Sapporo-Stone Brewing and Brooklyn Kura.
“We’re honored to present three diverse screenings showcasing three very different elements of Japanese cinema,” said Peter Tatara, Japan Society’s Director of Film. “We welcome audiences across New York to discover rare, new, and meaningful Japanese films together with us.”
As previously announced, Japan Society will also launch the first John and Miyoko Davey Classic Film Series focused on Hiroshi Shimizu, one of the forgotten masters of Japanese cinema, from May 16 to June 1.
Tickets for all events are available now at japansociety.org/film.
All screenings will be at Japan Society’s landmarked headquarters at 333 East 47th St, New York, NY 10017, one block from the United Nations and minutes from Grand Central Terminal.
The Film Desk Presents: Sans Soleil
Wed., May 1 at 7:00 PM at Japan Society
Dir. Chris Marker, 1983, 103 min., 35mm, color, in French with English subtitles.
Imported 35mm Print. Driven by a desire to “capture life in the process of becoming history,” the enigmatic and influential French filmmaker Chris Marker traveled the globe and made a sprawling body of hybrid work that ruminates on the nature of memory and time. Of the several films he made in Japan (where, among the crowded drinking holes of Shinjuku’s “Golden Gai” district, there is a bar named after one of his early masterpieces), this singular essay film remains the late director’s greatest achievement. An unnamed woman narrates the poetic letters and philosophical reflections of an invisible world traveler accompanied by footage of Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, Iceland, Paris, San Francisco, and, most significantly, Tokyo—a city whose people, streets, malls, and temples inspire the traveler’s richest observations. Introduction by editor Sadie Starnes. Presented with The Film Desk for the launch of the first English language edition of Chris Marker’s 1982 photo essay Le Dépays—a collection of Marker’s black-and-white photography in Japan tracing similar themes to Sans Soleil, from maneki-neko (beckoning cat statues) to Golden Gai. Copies of Le Dépays will be available for purchase in the lobby before and after the screening.
Lumberjack the Monster North American Premiere and Reception
『怪物の木こり』
Mon., May 6 at 8:00 PM at Japan Society
Dir. Takashi Miike, 2023, 118 min., DCP, color, in Japanese with English subtitles. With Kazuya Kamenashi, Nanao, Riho Yoshioka, Shota Sometani, Shido Nakamura.
North American Premiere. Japanese horror and cult icon Takashi Miike (Audition, Ichi the Killer, 13 Assassins) returns to the big screen with an adaptation of Mayusuke Kurai’s thrilling novel. This cat-and-mouse chase between a serial killer and a lawyer hot on his trail is filled with gruesome murders, missing brains, and disturbing secrets. The most disturbing? The lawyer is a psychopath. Yes, Takashi Miike’s newest nightmare is the brutal showdown between a serial killer and a psychopath lawyer. It’s a bloody good time. This premiere screening is presented together with the Tribeca Festival’s Escape from Tribeca. The Tribeca Festival returns June 5-16, and its Escape from Tribeca program puts a spotlight on underground, cult, and genre cinema. This event is hosted in honor of Lumberjack the Monster’s upcoming Netflix release on June 1.
Tampopo Screening and Reception
『タンポポ』
Sun., May 19 at 2:00 PM at Japan Society
Dir. Juzo Itami, 1985, 114 min., DCP, color, in Japanese with English subtitles. With Nobuko Miyamoto, Tsutomu Yamazaki, Koji Yakusho, Ken Watanabe.
Members-Only Birthday Event. Japan Society was founded on May 19, 1907, and in honor of our 117th anniversary, we’re hosting a birthday feast for the senses featuring one of Japan’s most iconic films followed by sparkling wine, sake, and cupcakes. From director Juzo Itami, “Ramen Western” Tampopo is an essential, eclectic film following Tampopo (Nobuko Miyamoto) and her journey to save her ramen shop with the perfect recipe. Featuring an eccentric all-star cast including a young Koji Yakusho and Ken Watanabe, Tampopo is a swerving, silly, sensual film about people who take ramen very seriously. About far more than noodles, Tampopo is a meditation on movies, society, etiquette, family, love, life, and death—and we’re honored to share it as a birthday gift with the Japan Society family
About Japan Society
Japan Society is the premier organization connecting Japanese arts, culture, business, and society with audiences in New York and around the world. At Japan Society, we are inspired by the Japanese concept of kizuna (絆)–forging deep connections to bind people together. We are committed to telling the story of Japan while strengthening connections within New York City and building new bridges beyond. In over 100 years of work, we’ve inspired generations by establishing ourselves as pioneers in supporting international exchanges in arts and culture, business and policy, as well as education between Japan and the U.S. We strive to convene important conversations on topics that bind our two countries together, champion the next generation of innovative creators, promote mutual understanding, and serve as a trusted guide for people everywhere who seek to more fully appreciate the rich complexities and abundance of Japan. From our New York headquarters, a landmark building designed by architect Junzo Yoshimura that opened to the public in 1971, we look forward to the years ahead, which will be defined by our digital and ideational impact through the kizuna that we build. Our future can only be enhanced by learning from our peers and engaging with our audiences, both near and afar.
Japan Society programs are made possible by leadership support from Booth Ferris Foundation and the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. Film programs are generously supported by ORIX Corporation USA, public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, Anime NYC and Yen Press. Endowment support is provided by the Lila Wallace-Reader’s Digest Endowment Fund and The John and Miyoko Davey Endowment Fund. Additional season support is provided by The Globus Family and Friends of Film. Transportation assistance is provided by Japan Airlines, the official Japanese airline sponsor of Japan Society Film. Housing assistance is provided by the Prince Kitano New York, the official hotel sponsor of Japan Society Film.
(Image courtesy of Janus Films)
