The annual Japanese Film Festival (Singapore) is happening this Friday.
It will open to a sold-out screening of the hot-favorite independent zombie comedy One Cut of the Dead, followed by a dozen more film screenings over a period of three weeks, concluding with a mini-retrospective of Yasujiro Ozu's films.
Have you got your tickets yet? I hope so, but for those who haven't, here are 3 films that I recommend you check out.
1. The Lowlife
Screened in competition at the 2017 Tokyo International Film Festival, 'The Lowlife' explores the everyday struggles of three Japanese women involved in the world of adult film as they face both family and public disapproval.
Adapted from a novel by Japanese AV star Mana Sakura and directed by Takahisa Zeze, one of the Four Heavenly Kings of Pink, the film has been well reviewed.
Variety praised the film as "very well delivered by Zeze’s sensitive direction and uniformly fine performances from a clearly committed cast."
2. Yakiniku Dragon
Elder restauranteur Yong-Gil Ryukichi runs Yakiniku Dragon, a neighbourhood restaurant in the outskirts of Osaka with Yong-Sun his wife and his three daughters Shizuka, Rika, Mika and youngest son Tokio.
We follow his family as his daughters fall into love, bicker out of love, argue, drink, sing and bond with the small Korean community in 70s era Japan.
Based on Chong’s successful stage play, the film explores the challenges of being a zainichi (ethnic Koreans trying to integrate into Japanese society).
Director Wishing Chong will also be present for a post-show Q&A.
3. Before We Vanish