All the Anime have been spoiling us for UK anime film screenings over the past few months, and certainly given us all plenty to blog and tweet about. Maria Okada’s directorial debut ‘Maquia: When the Promised Flowers Bloom’ is the latest film in their repetoire and is coming to UK cinema screens from 27 June! … Continue reading
Good news for fans of the Japanese murder mystery or ‘court drama’ genre – Kore-eda Hirokazu’s latest film, The Third Murder, is hitting UK cinema screens on 23rd March. Attorney Shigemori Tomoaki (Fukuyama Masaharu) takes on the defence case of Misumi Takashi (Yakusho Koji), who has been accused of murdering, robbing and setting fire to … Continue reading
It’s that time of the year again when I report back from the films I caught at the Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme (JFTFP), which is now in its 15th year! In case it wasn’t obvious, I’m a big fan of Japanese cinema and JFTFP is a very fixed date in my calendar. The screenings … Continue reading
I was lucky enough to catch Takashi Mikke’s Blade of the Immortal at the new Odeon Luxe Panton Street, complete with comfy reclining chairs. That’s a pretty good way to spend your last week in London before returning up north for Christmas! I was disappointed to miss Blade of the Immortal at the BFI Film … Continue reading
It’s been a good year for Satoshi Kon fans in the UK – not only did we get to see Perfect Blue on the big screen, but Paprika is now also available on blu-ray/DVD. That’s good news if you’re stuck for last minute Christmas present ideas, or just haven’t had a chance to see Paprika … Continue reading
There’s something distinctly bizarre about Masaaki Yuasa’s films that I can’t help but love. At first glance, Lu Over the Wall doesn’t look as sharp as some recent anime films that have graced UK screens this year – in fact, it literally looks shaky and wobbly. But there’s something wonderfully childish and joyful about it. You … Continue reading
Katsuhiro Otomo, the man behind standout anime films such as Akira and Metropolis, is one of those staple names in the anime director world. So, I was keen to check out Steamboy, a 2004 film re-released by MangaUK. This retro steampunk-esque story, set in Victorian England, is a great watch for the family and therefore … Continue reading
Studio Shaft’s Fireworks is the latest anime film coming to UK cinemas (15 November), thanks to All the Anime. Based on a 1990’s live-action TV special Fireworks: Should We See It from the Side or the Bottom? from Shunji Iwai that spawned a whole series of ‘what if’ dramas in Japan, it certainly has a … Continue reading
We’re coming to the end of film festival season in London, with a generous offering of Japanese films to boot. The second London East Asia Film Festival has been and gone and, while I didn’t see all the films I planned to, I managed to catch a few good ones. The London East Asia Film … Continue reading
The BFI London Film Festival 2017 has been and gone! No doubt you’ll have seen one of the many posters on the London Underground and managed to catch at least one film yourself. I caught a few other foreign films but, for the purposes of this blog, here are the three Japanese films I caught. … Continue reading
sophiesjapanblog.wordpress.com 