Festivals: Shinsedai
Shinsedai 2010: THE DARK HARBOR
Takatsugu Naito's The Dark Harbor (Futoko) is a dramatic comedy that indicates the emergence of a genuine talent. The Dark Harbor is not perfect -- what film is? -- but the level of skill and style involved is obvious. This film is really a joy to watch. Manzo Ishiguro...
Shinsedai 2010: DIFFERENT CITIES Review
Many Japanese people live in huge sprawling cities, environments which are prone to rapid change. Bar the odd museum or castle it seems like there is no sense of architectural history: complete areas are demolished and rebuilt wholesale at a fast...
Shinsedai 2010: ISLAND OF DREAMS
Tetsuichiro Tsuta's Island of Dreams (Yume no Shima) is an ultra-low budget black and white homage to Japanese cinema from the 1950s and 1960s. Sounds interesting, right? It is, but one has to get past surface appearances to really appreciate...
Shinsedai 2010: LIVE TAPE Review
[This review initially appeared when the film screened at Germany's Nippon Connection and with the film appearing this weekend at the Shinsedai Festival in Toronto we present it again now.]When I think of concert films I tend to think of...
Shinsedai 2010: CONFESSIONS OF A DOG Review
[Our thanks to Christopher Bourne for the following review which initially appeared when the film screened at the New York Asian Festival. With the film appearing this weekend at the Shinsedai Festival in Toronto we present it again now..] A...
Shinsedai 2010: OUR BRIEF ETERNITY Review
[This review initially appeared when the film screened at Germany's Nippon Connection and with the film appearing this weekend at the Shinsedai Festival in Toronto we present it again now..]"Our Brief Eternity" is one of those rare delights: a film...
Shinsedai 2010: KAKERA, A PIECE OF YOUR LIFE Review
[This review initially appeared when the film screened at Germany's Nippon Connection and with the film appearing this weekend at the Shinsedai Festival in Toronto we present it again now..]If there is one "buzz" film at this year's Nippon Connection...
Complete Shinsedai Festival Lineup And Schedule Announced!
A moment here to say a very public well done to Shinsedai Festival organizers Chris MaGee and Jasper Sharp. The complete festival lineup and schedule have been announced today and it's a stellar, diverse lineup of titles. Here's the announcement...
First Block Of Shinsedai 2010 Titles Announced
The Toronto-based Shinsedai Festival got off to a roaring start in 2009 and though it hardly seems like a year has passed the first block of titles has already been announced for the 2010 edition.Once again curated by Chris MaGee...
