ISLAMABAD:
Did you hear about “The girl who leapt through time”? Mamoru Hosadaa’s highly-acclaimed 2006 film was screened at the opening ceremony of the Japanese Film Festival organised by the Embassy of Japan in collaboration with the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) at the National Art Gallery on Thursday.
Ambassador of Japan Hiroshi Oe was the chief guest. The film, which has won numerous awards including the Japan Academy Prize for animation of the year, aimed to introduce the anime (Japanese animated films) to people in Pakistan.
The 97-minute film is about a 17-year-old girl Makoto Konno who gains the ability to leap backwards in time. Taking full advantage of her newfound power, she immediately sets about improving her grades as well as preventing mishaps in the past.
However, as the film progresses she finds out that changing the past isn’t as simple as it seems and eventually uses her powers to shape the future of herself and her friends.
As she sets off on the adventure of her lifetime she slowly learns that knowledge of the unknown doesn’t always translate into an ideal life.
Speaking on the occasion the Japanese ambassador said that the festival has been held in Pakistan since 1995 with the Japan Foundation’s support and has provided an opportunity to Pakistanis to learn about various aspects of the Japanese lifestyle, culture and society. “However this is the first time that we are holding a Japanese animation film festival in Pakistan. Japanese animation is a widely accepted form of entertainment in Japan,” he said.
He added that anime is known for its unique artistic style and deep emotional stories. Science fiction, adventure, historical drama and fantasy are also part of this particular form of filmmaking. The film festival is open to school children and the public on November 1 and 2.
The festival was scheduled to start from Wednesday but was delayed following Nusrat Bhutto’s death. Several ambassadors participated in the event, though the overall attendance was low.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 28th, 2011.
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