Japanese Film Festival: Traditional warrior seen in new light
An award-winning movie on a samurai’s resilience in coping with life’s hardships.
ISLAMABAD:
A cinematic representation of Japanese culture’s most enduring and emblematic figure, the sword-wielding samurai, turned out to be a treat for viewers at the inaugural screening of “Ame agaru” or “After the Rain” on Tuesday. The screening was the first in a three-day film festival that is being held at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts.
The Japanese Film Festival is held every year to provide an opportunity for people to learn about various aspects of Japanese culture and lifestyle. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Pakistan.
The festival was inaugurated by Japanese envoy Akira Kono. “Samurais are often described as warriors, but the films that we are going to show in this festival highlight a different aspect and are focused more on their daily lives,” he stated.
The movie’s plot sheds light on the resilience of the samurai in everyday life and that is what makes it an excellent choice to start the festival, said a visitor. The story is based on the last script written by late Japanese director, Akira Kurosawa, and is directed by his former assistant, Takashi Koizumi. It won a Japanese Academy Award in 1999.
Though the movie was a peek into Japanese culture and way of life, audiences anywhere can relate to the characters trying to make the best of their situation. The samurai in the film, Ihei Misawa is humanised by virtue of his good intentions and not the swiftness of his sword.
The ambassador said, “They are great masters of sword-play, but aren’t showy about their talent. Those virtues of samurai in old times remain to be fundamental values in today’s Japanese society.”
I also believe that those values have something in common with other nations of the world, and that is one of the reasons why these films acquired international acclaim, he added.
The Japanese embassy will be holding an exhibition this November, “The Spirit of Budo” or “The History of Japan’s Martial Arts” to showcase samurais’ armours, helmets and swords.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 4th, 2012.
A cinematic representation of Japanese culture’s most enduring and emblematic figure, the sword-wielding samurai, turned out to be a treat for viewers at the inaugural screening of “Ame agaru” or “After the Rain” on Tuesday. The screening was the first in a three-day film festival that is being held at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts.
The Japanese Film Festival is held every year to provide an opportunity for people to learn about various aspects of Japanese culture and lifestyle. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Pakistan.
The festival was inaugurated by Japanese envoy Akira Kono. “Samurais are often described as warriors, but the films that we are going to show in this festival highlight a different aspect and are focused more on their daily lives,” he stated.
The movie’s plot sheds light on the resilience of the samurai in everyday life and that is what makes it an excellent choice to start the festival, said a visitor. The story is based on the last script written by late Japanese director, Akira Kurosawa, and is directed by his former assistant, Takashi Koizumi. It won a Japanese Academy Award in 1999.
Though the movie was a peek into Japanese culture and way of life, audiences anywhere can relate to the characters trying to make the best of their situation. The samurai in the film, Ihei Misawa is humanised by virtue of his good intentions and not the swiftness of his sword.
The ambassador said, “They are great masters of sword-play, but aren’t showy about their talent. Those virtues of samurai in old times remain to be fundamental values in today’s Japanese society.”
I also believe that those values have something in common with other nations of the world, and that is one of the reasons why these films acquired international acclaim, he added.
The Japanese embassy will be holding an exhibition this November, “The Spirit of Budo” or “The History of Japan’s Martial Arts” to showcase samurais’ armours, helmets and swords.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 4th, 2012.