Japanese Film Weekend Autumn 2013

13 – 15 Sep 2013
National Cinema Center

WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF TICKETS. SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCE.
From Japan Foundation Center for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam:

In celebration of the Japan – Vietnam Friendship Year 2013, the Japan Foundation Center for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam proudly presents a Japanese Film Weekend Autumn 2013 from Friday 13 to Sunday 15 September 2013 in Hanoi.

Two years and half have passed since the 3.11 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami occurred in Japan. Tremendous efforts for recovery have been implemented since then but the scars are still visible in many places in the region. Moreover to our sorrow, our collective memory on the disaster has been gradually faded month by month.

With the aim of preventing this disaster from being forgotten, we offer special weekend film screenings which are all related to the natural disasters occurred in Japan, including two excellent documentaries on the 3.11 disaster.

The Film Weekend opens with the newest documentary film, “The Radio of Hope” (2012) which depicts the struggling life of town residents who are also the 3.11 disaster victims but run an emergency radio station wishing to bring smiles to as many disaster victims as possible through the radio. This documentary has successfully brought hope and courage to the audience and has been a long-run hit in Japan since its premier screening in April 2012.

“LIGHT UP NIPPON” (2012) is another documentary film related to the 3.11 disaster, introducing young people’s challenge to energize the devastated areas in Tohoku region through fireworks, a Japanese traditional art form with a long history. The efforts of enthusiastic young volunteers inspire us hope for future as well as remembrance of the 3.11 disaster.

“Eclair” (2011) is, on the other hand, a feature film about an orphan boy who vigorously survives in the era of World War II, gaining the power to live by thinking about sweets and singing a song. This film was taken in 2010 in several locations in Miyagi Prefecture, where the 3.11 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami stroke one year later. Most of the locations are disastrously wiped by the tsunami and a lot of volunteers and cooperators of this film have become the victims of the disaster. With this fact, the main character Akio’s sorrow and hope overlap with mourning for the lost nature and the deceased, as well as hope for recovery at this juncture.

Last but not least, “WANKO” is also a feature film which depicts a life of one family and a dog who are living in Miyakejima, a small island where an active volcano exists. Based on a true story, this film induces the audience to burst into tears for the family and the dog.

We hope that the audience will keep the memory of the 3.11 disaster and think over what is important in our life through these films. All films will be screened with Vietnamese and English sub-titles. Free admission tickets are available at the Japan Foundation (27 Quang Trung, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi).

Schedule:

Friday 13 September
19:00 The Radio of Hope (2012)

Saturday 14 September
10:00 WANKO (2011)
14:00 LIGHT UP NIPPON (2012)
16:00 The Radio of Hope (2012)
19:30 Eclair (2011)

Sunday 15 September
10:00 LIGHT UP NIPPON (2012)
14:00 Eclair (2011)
16:00 WANKO (2011) tickets are already distributed out.

Free ticket distribution at:
The Japan Foundation Center for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam
27 Quang Trung, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
[Opening hours: 09:30 – 18:00, no closed days]

For more information about the films, please visit Japan Foundation’s website.