Modern Japanese Women: Finding the Strength Within
2017/2/27
Consulate General of Japan in Kolkata organized a Japanese Film Festival funded by the Japan Foundation at Dr. Triguna Sen Auditorium, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, where a selection of five Japanese films with English subtitles were screened.
All the 5 films chosen were about modern women in Japan as the title suggests. With the rapidly changing world today, the Japanese society is also undergoing a change in which women are playing a crucial role. This film festival portrayed the indomitable strength of modern Japanese women who are breaking away from the conventional roles and finding new paths.
All the 5 films chosen were about modern women in Japan as the title suggests. With the rapidly changing world today, the Japanese society is also undergoing a change in which women are playing a crucial role. This film festival portrayed the indomitable strength of modern Japanese women who are breaking away from the conventional roles and finding new paths.
Inauguration Ceremony
The inauguration ceremony took place on Thursday, 23 February 2017 at 3:30 PM in the presence of:
Prof. Das thanked the Consulate General of Japan in Kolkata for choosing Jadavpur University campus as the venue for the film festival. He also highlighted academic ties between Jadavpur University and some Japanese universities, institutes and scholars, expressing hope of further strengthening such cooperation in the future.
Mr. Chanda acquainted the audience about Satyajit Ray and Akira Kurosava friendship, and stated that it is an unique opportunity for the people in and around Kolkata to view such Japanese films portraying the strength of women.
Dr. Roy expressed pleasure in being invited to the event and informed the audience about the first film 'Sue, Mai and Sawa: Righting the Girl Ship' which was to follow.
Mr. Taga conveyed his thanks to Jadavpur University and all the other guests for being present and supporting the efforts taken by the Consulate General of Japan in Kolkata.
- Prof. Suranjan Das as Guest of Honour
Vice Chancellor, Jadavpur University
- Mr. Barun Chanda as Chief Guest
Eminent Actor & Poet
- Mr. Masayuki Taga
Consul General of Japan in Kolkata
- Dr. Abhijit Roy
Prof. & Head, Department of Film Studies, Jadavpur University
Prof. Das thanked the Consulate General of Japan in Kolkata for choosing Jadavpur University campus as the venue for the film festival. He also highlighted academic ties between Jadavpur University and some Japanese universities, institutes and scholars, expressing hope of further strengthening such cooperation in the future.
Mr. Chanda acquainted the audience about Satyajit Ray and Akira Kurosava friendship, and stated that it is an unique opportunity for the people in and around Kolkata to view such Japanese films portraying the strength of women.
Dr. Roy expressed pleasure in being invited to the event and informed the audience about the first film 'Sue, Mai and Sawa: Righting the Girl Ship' which was to follow.
Mr. Taga conveyed his thanks to Jadavpur University and all the other guests for being present and supporting the efforts taken by the Consulate General of Japan in Kolkata.
Movie Synopsis and Screening Schedule
23 February 2017 | Thursday | 4:00 PM
Sue, Mai & Sawa: Righting the Girl Ship
Runtime: 106 min
Release Date: 2 March 2013
Director: Osamu Minorikawa
Cast
Ko Shibasaki as Su-chan
Yoko Maki as Mai-chan
Shinobu Terajima as Sawako-san
Plot: A heartwarming drama based on Masuda Miri’s comic strips series. 34 year old Su-chan works at a coffee shop and has feelings for the manager there. Mai-chan, by contrast, is a skilled negotiator of the social/business rapids as a saleswoman for an office-equipment maker and is in a relationship with a married man. 39-year-old Sawako works as a web designer and also takes care of her mother and senile grandmother.
The movie offers a warm and tender depiction of the lives of three women in their thirties struggling with their futures, love lives and more. It suggests that rather than long for the big happy ending, it’s better to take life day by day and, whenever you can manage it, share a scrumptious picnic basket with friends.
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23 February 2017 | Thursday | 6:00 PM
23 February 2017 | Thursday | 6:00 PM
Seventh Code
Runtime: 60 min
Release Date: 11 January 2014
Director: Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Cast
Atsuko Maeda as Akiko
Ryohei Suzuki as Matsunaga
Hiroshi Yamamoto as Saito
Plot: Akiko travels to Vladivostok to meet Matsunaga whom she first met in Tokyo and is unable to forget. Even though Akiko meets Matsunaga again, Matsunaga does not remember her. Matsunaga tells her not to trust anyone in the foreign country and he leaves. Akiko tries to find Matsunaga again, but she is attacked by the mafia and thrown out in the wasteland without any money. Thereafter, the film shifts from relative realism to a mix of standard action-movie tropes and dreamy, dread-laden sequences.
Release Date: 11 January 2014
Director: Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Cast
Atsuko Maeda as Akiko
Ryohei Suzuki as Matsunaga
Hiroshi Yamamoto as Saito
Plot: Akiko travels to Vladivostok to meet Matsunaga whom she first met in Tokyo and is unable to forget. Even though Akiko meets Matsunaga again, Matsunaga does not remember her. Matsunaga tells her not to trust anyone in the foreign country and he leaves. Akiko tries to find Matsunaga again, but she is attacked by the mafia and thrown out in the wasteland without any money. Thereafter, the film shifts from relative realism to a mix of standard action-movie tropes and dreamy, dread-laden sequences.
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24 February 2017 | Friday | 4:00 PM
Round Trip Heart
Runtime: 97 min
Release Date: 29 August 2015
Director: Yuki Tanada
Cast
Yuko Oshima as Hachiko Hojo
Koji Okura as Yoichi Sakuraba
Michiyo Kubo as Yoshimi Nozaki
Plot:
26-year-old Hachiko Hojo works as a train attendant, selling items on a cart. She's good at her job, but she lacks self-confidence. One day, she meets, Yoichi Sakuraba, a movie producer. They end up embarking on a journey together to find Hachiko’s long-lost mom, who has written her a heartfelt letter suggesting that she might commit suicide. They decide to visit tourist attractions in Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. Hachiko Hojo looks back upon her life along the way.
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24 February 2017 | Friday | 6:00 PM
24 February 2017 | Friday | 6:00 PM
My Little Sweet Pea