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Villain (2010)
Directed by: Lee Sang-Il
Starring: Tsumabuki Satoshi, Fukatsu Eri
Part love story, part murder mystery that involves one killer on the run (the "Villain" in the title) and one sales clerk in a suit store named Mitsuyo. Mitsuyo, played by award-winning actress Fukatsu Eri, is intrigued by the vacuous, unhinged nature of the murderer Shimizu, and ends up joining him in his attempt to flee from the authorities.
Think of these two characters as the sicker, less predictable cousins of Bonnie and Clyde.
PEAK—The Rescuers (2011)
Directed by Osamu Katayama
Starring: Shun Oguri, Masami Nagasawa
A movie based on the comics by Ishizuka Shinichi. The story centers on one veteran mountaineer, Sanpo, who volunteers as a rescuer in the Northern Alps after having conquered the world's famous peaks. Stern, and dutiful, Sanpo is the opposite of another volunteer, the easygoing, and definitely less anal, Kumi. In their trying times, they both discover how they can rely on each other.
This one's a film that Pinoy Everest conqueror, Romy Garduce, might just take a peek at.
Railways (2010)
Directed by: Yoshinari Nishikori
Starring: Kiichi Nakai, Reiko Takashima
If you look close enough at many other Japanese movies and animated features, you'll notice that Japan's always been a train-loving country. This one is no different. Railways centers in on Hajime, a man who went corporate, and who's now next-in-line as the big boss in his company. Except a family tragedy occurs, and he is forced to revisit his old life, old families, friends, but most especially his biggest passion: trains and railways.
A heartwarming tale about following your dreams--even when you've become an old, crusty C.E.O. of some huge company.
Happy Flight (2008)
Directed by Shinobu Yaguchi
Starring Haruka Ayase, Tomoko Tabata
A movie about planes and careers that are about to take flight only to encounter a bit of turbulence. Co-pilot Suzuki Kazuhiro aspires to be promoted as a captain while cabin attendant Saito Etsuko prepares for her debut on an international flight. Big dreams are evidently riding on this flight--Flight No. 1980, bound for Honolulu from Japan--when something goes awry, and the plane is forced to land back in Japan. Making things even worse: a typhoon is coming. Will Suzuki and Saito even survive to at least gain another attempt at fulfilling their dream? Watch this Japanese comedy and find out.
Tomorrow’s Joe (2011)
Directed by: Fumihiko Sori
Starring: Tomohisa Yamashita, Yusuke Iseya
Here's something for the boxing fans. Tomorrow's Joe is a live-action adaptation of a classic boxing manga, which originally ran in one of Japan's most famous manga-zine, Weekly Shonen Magazine. Stylish, and fast-paced, the movie revolves around two fierce ring rivals, the eponymous Yabuki Joe, and another equally talented, equally determined fighter, Toru Rikishii. The former comes from the slums, while the other is a pure-bred professional. If you've ever been a fan of Hajime no Ippo (known as "Knockout" locally), this Japanese Rocky should be for you.
In His Chart (2011)
Directed by: Yoshihiro Fukagawa
Starring: Sho Sakurai, Aoi Miyazaki
Based on the novel of Natsukawa Sosuke, this medical drama dives straight into the provinces of Japan, its non-glitzy side, and homes in on the healthcare issues surrounding the area. We see it through the eyes of a young doctor named Ichito who comes across a case that makes him question the very essence of his profession--a case involving a patient with terminal cancer, Azumi. Definitely one of the heavier films in the festival.
Colorful (2010)
Directed by: Keiichi Hara
Starring: Kazato Tomizawa, Aoi Miyazaki, Akina Minami
A Japanese filmfest just wouldn't be complete without an animated feature. This year we have something very vibrant, if the title is any indication. Colorful is part sci-fi, part fantasy, and part creepy too with a kind of concept that the Japs routinely come up with. The film's plot is very, very interesting: a deceased soul inhabits the body of a boy who had just committed suicide. The boy's body regains life, and the soul explores the boy's story further, and unfurls the truth about the suicide. Crazy, wonderful is all we can say.
Abacus and Sword (2010)
Directed by: Yoshimitsu Morita
Starring: Masato Sakai, Yukie Nakama
An adaptation of a book by Isoda Michifumi that takes us back to the final days of medieval Japan, the Tokugawa shogunate to be exact. The film is unique in that it de-romanticizes "the samurai," and focuses on the life of one low-ranking samurai who's actually much better with math than with a sword. An inside look not only into his life, but also a peek into his family and neighborhood.
Ninja Kids!!! (2011)
Directed by: Takashi Mike
Starring: Seishiro Kato
80s kids will probably remember the Pinoy flick of the same name, which starred Francis M. and Herbert Bautista among others. But while that one spiraled into the depths of IMDB, this Takashi Miike-directed flick had been praised for the incredible energy its cast of, well, ninja kids, brings! The film is a live-action adaptation of the manga Nintama Rantaro, and follows a group of elementary kids, who are secretly ninjas-in-training.
Wanna relive your ninja fantasies when you were a kid? This one's for you, ninja bro.
Permanent Nobara (2010)
Directed by: Daihachi Yoshida
Starring: Miho Kanno, Yosuke Eguchi
Here's another manga-based film that focuses on more mature themes. Naoko is a single mom with a young daughter who is forced to return to her hometown after a divorce. There her mother runs a beauty parlor, which has more or less transformed into a venue where the town's women convene to talk about their bad experiences with men. For a newly-divorced woman, that's as good a therapy as you can get. Slowly, Naoko tries to piece her life back together, and maybe, find a man again.
Couples might learn a thing or two from this lighthearted drama.
