Even though the unusual circumstances mean a setback for many events, the Viennese film festival “Japannual” defies the cultural lethargy and starts its fourth edition from 1st to 7th of October with more than 25 recent features from the land of the rising sun.
Once again, the selection presents a strong focus on female cinema and gives space to their voices. Michio Koshikawa's “After the Sunset” about the concept of motherhood in a rural fishing village opens the program. Sexuality, gender, and power constructions are part of a versatie festival that sadly has to go without foreign guests this year.
Known for her photography, Mika Ninagawa had a long break in filmmaking before she returned with a pack of big productions last year (“Diner”, “Followers” Netflix). “Japannual” shows her newest biopic “No Longer Human” about the writer Osamu Dazai and his mistresses. Sexuality is further discussed in Yuki Tanada's “Romance Doll” and “Shape of Red” by Yukiko Mishima, which turns to the liberation of women. With the documentary “Zero as you are” Miyuki Tokoi gives a very personal insight into the transgender debate in Japan.
Fans of more violent content are pleased by Masaharu Take's “The Gun 2020”, a remake of his own film with a new female lead, and the excessive “Miyamoto” about retribution. Anshul Chauhan's “Kontora” depicts the reprocessing of violence in a generation-spanning context. The independent crime drama and debut of director Ryo Katayama, “Roar“, rounds up this section of the festival.
The anime “Seven Days War” gives a break from the intensity and tells the story of a teenage rebellion, that revolves around self determination, independence, and tolerance. Heart-warming feelings also come up with “Tora-San, Wish You Were Here“, the 50th entry to the longest-running film series in the world.
50 years has passed since the death of author, actor, and director Yukio Mishima. “Japannual” shows Paul Shrader's masterpiece “Mishima: Life in Four Chapters” that deals with the life of this extraordinary person. Another master of Japanese cinema is appreciated in “Labyrinth of Cinema” by Nobuhiko Obayashi. Before his death in 2019, he also appeared in Naoki Murahashi's mocumentary “Extro“, which captivates a unique sense of humor and is also shown in the program. The debut film of the former NHK director explores the daily life of extras, who play minor background roles and displays a hilarious look behind the scenes of the film industry.
Other highlights are Setsuro Wakamatsu's “Fukushima 50“, the first blockbuster dealing with the 3/11 castastrophe, and the new Toshiaki Toyoda flick “The Day of Destruction” introducing Kiyohiko Shibukawa in the lead role.
