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CORK SLIGO DUBLIN GALWAY LIMERICK DUNDALK TIPPERARY WATERFORD CELEBRATING 10 YEARS WELCOME TO THE JAPANESE FILM FESTIVAL 2018

We are 10! 2018 marks a decade of The Embassy of Japan’s collaboration with Access>Cinema. The success in that time was not possible without various supporters, particularly the Ireland Japan Association and the Japan Foundation, and we look forward to working with existing and new supporters for 2018. We are really excited about this year’s line- up, which showcases the best of contemporary Japanese cinema, with a mix of new work from established directors and first features from inspiring new talent. Recently picking up the Japan Academy 2018 prizes for Best Film and Best Director, The Third Murder sees the great Hirokazu Kore-eda taking a break from his usual family dramas to deliver a dark legal thriller. Close Knit, the latest from Naoko Ogigami – her Rent-a-Cat was a favourite in 2013 – is a heartwarming yet poignant crowd- pleaser. Partially inspired by the life and work of Vincent van Gogh, The Sower is a quiet but probing story from new voice Yosuke Takeuchi. For this 10th edition our anime selection is particularly strong. We are honoured to welcome acclaimed screenwriter Mari Okada to Dublin for the Irish premiere of her debut feature Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms, just weeks after its international premiere in Glasgow. On April 10th we present, for one night only, exclusive fan preview screenings of Studio Ponoc’s highly-anticipated first production Mary and the Witch’s Flower. We also present the latest films from Masaaki Yuasa. Our first Japanese Film Festival in 2008 screened 4 films in Dublin, Cork and Limerick. This year we return to those 3 original locations, but also visit Galway, Tipperary, Sligo, Waterford and Dundalk, presenting 50 screenings of 17 films nationally. This is our biggest Festival yet and we are delighted to give the opportunity to so many people throughout Ireland to experience a little bit of Japan through these films.

Enjoy & Arigato! Embassy of Japan & Access>Cinema TATSUYUKI NAGAI (born 1976) is a member of the prolific Sunrise anime studio. His KENJI YAMAUCHI (born 1958) has made his name as an actor, writer and director. television work includes directorial roles on series such as Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron- His on-screen credits include Hospitalité (10) and Tamako in Moratorium (13). Blooded Orphans, Mushishi and Honey & Clover. His feature films includeAnohana: He made his directorial debut with Being Mitsuko (11), which was followed by The Flower We Saw That Day (13) and Anthem Of The Heart (15), both of which were Her Father, My Lover (15). Yamauchi is also an accomplished playwright: written by JFF 2018 guest Mari Okada. Trois Grotesques – the source material for At The Terrace – won the prestigious Kishida Kunio Drama Award in 2015.

ANTHEM OF THE HEART AT THE TERRACE 心が叫びたがってるんだ。テラスにて

When young Jun Naruse spots her to her three new friends, Jun gains As a dinner party winds down, a Social norms and expectations are father with another woman, she a new-found confidence… but few people gather on the terrace giddily tossed aside during this innocently tells her mother what shaking off her inability to speak at the back of a lavish suburban wicked comedy-drama. Adapting she has seen – a revelation that proves to be a serious challenge. home. At first, the conversation is his own play, Kenji Yamauchi leads to the parents’ divorce. Jun polite – there’s only two or three makes the most out of a single is horrified at what has happened, Written by Mari Okada (Maquia) couples, but most are only casual location. Despite the camera being and is visited by a mysterious and directed by Tatsuyuki Nagai, acquaintances or colleagues. restricted to the terrace itself, the talking egg who appears to steal this is a small film with a very big However, after a couple of awkward film is full of life as characters away her ability to talk. Years later, heart. Full of well-developed and moments and the arrival of a few come and go. The humour is Jun is a high school student who likeable characters, Anthem of the more people, things start getting a deliciously dark, the characters still refuses to speak a word. When Heart proves a charming coming-of- lot more interesting. Over the course brilliantly realised, and the pay-offs she ends up on a school committee age story. With ‘heart’ in its title, it of a few hours, the increasingly are pitch-perfect. Cruel, hilarious with classmates Takumi, Natsuki should come as no surprise that this drunken group witnesses salacious and surprising in equal measure, and Daiki, they wind up with a takes some very emotional turns: revelations, imploding relationships, the sheer energy of At the Terrace very specific task: put together a while you may well shed a tear or and even some unexpected affairs. puts most ‘filmed plays’ to shame. musical. While Jun is unable to two, this is above all else a heart- talk, she becomes determined to warming tale about one teenager’s try and sing. As she grows closer journey to find her own voice. NAOKO OGIGAMI (born 1972) graduated from Chiba University before moving to the MASAKAZU FUKATSU was born in New York City. He is an established music video USA to study film at the University of Southern California. She worked as an assistant director, having made promos for Japanese bands such as One OK Rock, Andymori and for companies producing commercials and began making her own short films. Kana-Boom. Dad’s Lunch Box (17) is his debut feature, and the film has screened at She made her feature film debut withBarber Yoshino (03) which featured at the many international festivals including the 2017 San Sebastian Film Festival. Berlin Film Festival. Her other films includeKoi Wa Go-Shichi-Go! (05), Kamome Diner (06), Megane (07), Toilet (10) and Rent-a-Cat (12). Close Knit is her latest film.

CLOSE KNIT DAD’S LUNCH BOX 彼らが本気で編むときは、パパのお弁当は世界一

When her mother disappears from Naoko Ogigami has crafted a A father (Toshimi Watanabe) Dad’s Lunch Box is based on a true home – not for the first time – lovely, charming family drama decides to start making a bento story – a viral social media post 11-year-old Tomo finds herself once that treats all its characters with box (lunch box) for his daughter that showed one girl’s lunch box again taken in by her loving uncle genuine empathy and respect. Toma Midori (Rena Takeda) before she on her last day of school. That Makio. This time things are a little Ikuta skillfully portrays Rinko as heads off to high school every day. final bento contained an emotional different, as Makio is no longer a woman adjusting to a new life, At first, the experiment doesn’t go message from her father, after he living alone – he’s instead sharing and Rinka Kakihara is superb as a so well – the food isn’t great, and had spent three years making the his home with his partner Rinko, a young girl who is forced to grow one day the fish even turns out daily homemade lunch. The film transgender woman. The situation up faster than expected. While to be rotten. However, the father uses that idea to create a a moving is initially confusing for Tomo and Close-Knit doesn’t shy away from decides to stick with it, and before family drama. First-time director Rinko, with both finding themselves addressing Tomo’s abandonment, long his culinary skills start to Masakazu Fukatsu tells the story spending a lot of time with an this is above all a gentle and bloom. Midori, meanwhile, tries to with confidence, and both leads unexpected roommate. However, thoughtful film that packs a real navigate the challenges of being a turn in impressive performances. they quickly bond over food, video emotional punch. And you’ll teenager. With father and daughter Dad’s Lunch Box is another in a long games, and knitting. This unlikely struggle to find a more affectionate busy living their own lives, the line of Japanese films for foodies – family grows ever closer, but they depiction of the power of knitting. daily bento box soon becomes an you’ll be eager to make a delicious find themselves wondering how important daily ritual for them both. lunch box of your own after long it can last before Tomo’s watching this charming little film. mother returns home... YUKIKO MISHIMA (born 1969) began her career in the mid-1990s as a producer MASAYA OZAKI (born 1960) is a well-established television writer in Japan, with and director for television programs at Japanese broadcaster NHK. Her feature films dozens of credits to his name. His small screen work includes writing the series include Bread of Happiness (12), A Stitch of Life (15), Broken Hearts for Sale (15) and The Sweatshop President (14), which featured Her Sketchbook star Mugi Kadowaki. Night’s Tightrope (16). Masaya made his big screen directorial debut with the comedy Rendezvous! (10). Her Sketchbook (17) is his second directorial feature.

DEAR ETRANGER HER SKETCHBOOK 幼な子われらに生まれ世界は今日から君のもの

It’s been several years since Makoto Japanese cinema has a rich history Over the last five years, Mami (Mugi Her Sketchbook is a coming-of-age divorced his first wife. He has of probing family dramas, from Kadowaki) has barely left her house. story with a difference. Hikikomori remained a loving father to their the classics of Yasujiro Ozu (Tokyo She is a ‘hikikomori’ – a young adult have become a major social daughter Saori, despite not seeing Story) to, more recently, the work of who has become a social recluse. concern in Japan, with hundreds her as often as he’d like. He has also Hirokazu Kore-eda (Still Walking). She instead spends most of her of thousands of youth estimated to long-since remarried, and lives a Dear Etranger – based on a novel time drawing fantasy characters in have withdrawn from social life. Her mostly happy life with his second of the same name – very much her sketchbook. Worried about his Sketchbook is a compassionate study wife Nanae. While he has a great lives up to such high standards. daughter’s well-being, her father of one such recluse that insightfully relationship with Nanae’s youngest It is decidedly modern, taking a Eisuke finds Mami a job working probes the reasons behind and child Eriko, his older foster daughter deep look at the more complex as a video-game tester. While Mami the consequences of Mami’s Kaoru has struggled to accept his family situations that have become tries to keep to herself in her new confinement. It’s also a warm and presence. When Nanae announces more common in recent decades. role, a colleague named Ryotaro funny film that boasts amusing she is pregnant, the fissures in the Director Yukiko Mishima makes happens to discover his new co- set-pieces, colourful supporting family suddenly start to become sure to give all the actors enough worker’s talent for drawing. Facing characters and some surprising more pronounced. Things become space to properly develop their tight deadlines, Ryotaro decides to pellet gun fights! even more fraught when Eriko starts characters into believable and – get Mami on board as a member asking about meeting her estranged perhaps even more importantly of the studio’s art team. But the biological father – a man who has a – likeable people. Packed with challenge of drawing insular Mami dark history. As the tensions mount, excellent performances and gut- out of her self-imposed shell proves Makoto finds himself wondering if wrenching moments, Dear Etranger to be no small undertaking… his second marriage is destined to proves that family remains one of go in the same direction as his first. richest sources for great drama. MASAAKIXXX xxxxxx YUASA (born 1965) graduated from Kyushu Sangyo University, majoring in Fine MARIXXX OKADA xxxxxx (born 1976) is a screenwriter who works on a variety of media, including Arts. He started his career at Ajia-do, an animation studio in Tokyo. He then became a direct-to-video films, games and radio dramas. Her anime debut was on the 1998 TV freelancer and made his first directorial work,Mind Game (04). In 2014 he founded a new series DT Eightron. Since then, she has gained attention through her work on the series animation studio called Science Saru. This year JFF 18 features two new anime features composition and scripts of numerous titles including true tears (08), Toradora! (08), from him – Lu Over The Wall (17), winner of the main Cristal prize at the Annecy Animation Hanasaku Iroha (11), AnoHana: The Flower We Saw That Day (11) and Nagi-Asu: A Lull Film Festival, and The Night is Short, Walk On Girl (17). He most recently worked on in the Sea (13). Anthem of the Heart (15) marked her first effort at writing an original Devilman Crybaby, an original anime series for Netflix. anime feature film. LU OVER THE WALL MAQUIA: WHEN THE PROMISED 夜明け告げるルーのうた FLOWER BLOOMS さよならの朝に約束の花をかざろう

Following his parents’ divorce, loner hears music. But Lu’s friendship Maquia belongs to an elf-like screenwriter, Mari Okada taking teenager Kai moves with his father with Kai is sure to lead to disaster race called the Iolph, who live for the top job as director has been a from Tokyo to the declining fishing in a town where local fears and hundreds of years while maintaining long time coming – a challenge town of Hinashi to live with his superstitions about the merfolk a youthful appearance. One day, the she accepted after hearing that P.A. grandfather. He finds little to amuse could place her in danger… peaceful existence of these people is Works, with whom she collaborated him in this new location, preferring shattered by an invasion of humans previously on titles including Nagi- to spend long periods by himself Winner of the top prize at the 2017 seeking Iolph blood believing it will Asu: A Lull in the Sea, wanted to see a creating music on his laptop and Annecy Animation Film Festival, gift eternal life. Maquia manages work where she could give her 100%. sharing it on the internet. When his Masaaki Yuasa’s Lu Over the Wall to escape but as she flees, she classmates Kunio and Yuho discover brings a hallucinogenic-but- discovers an orphaned human baby; The result is a triumph – an his online identity, they want him to family-friendly feel to the classic she decides to raise him as her intimate human story set against join their band, which Kai is finally tale of the little mermaid who own, naming him Erial. But as the a fantasy backdrop and infused persuaded to do when he hears they falls in love with a human. Using boy grows older and he becomes with spellbinding animation and a practise on the local remote and bright, imaginative animation aware that Maquia doesn’t age, their soundtrack by Kenji Kawai (Ghost in allegedly haunted Merfolk Island. and a toe-tapping J-pop type relationship becomes strained. the Shell). With Maquia, Okada has soundtrack, Yuasa delivers a film succeeded in creating a profoundly But they aren’t the only ones with its own unique style. Energetic, Hot on the heels of its recent human drama and emotional drawn to Kai’s catchy tunes. Lu irreverent and visually riveting, international premiere in Glasgow adventure that will resonate with is a rare twin-tailed mermaid Lu Over the Wall is unpredictable – the first outside of Japan – audiences, and it confirms her girl, who loves to sing and whose and delightfully feel-good. we are delighted to host the Irish reputation as one of the industry’s whole being transforms when she premiere of this major new anime most exciting female talents. film. Primarily known as an anime HIROMASA YONEBAYASHI (born 1973) studied design at the Kanazawa College of Art MASAAKI YUASA (born 1965) graduated from Kyushu Sangyo University, majoring in Fine before joining Studio Ghibli in 1996, where he worked as an animator on such classics Arts. He started his career at Ajia-do, an animation studio in Tokyo. He then became a as Princess Mononoke (97), My Neighbours the Yamadas (99), Spirited Away (02) and freelancer and made his first directorial work,Mind Game (04). In 2014 he founded a new Howl’s Moving Castle (04). He made his directorial debut with The Secret World of animation studio called Science Saru. JFF 18 features two new anime features from him– Arrietty (10), an adaption of Mary Norton’s The Borrowers. His second feature, When The Night is Short, Walk On Girl (17), winner of the Best Animated Feature Prize at the recent Marnie Was There (14) was nominated for an Academy Award. Mary and the Witch’s Japan Academy Awards, and Lu Over The Wall (17). He most recently worked on Devilman Flower (17) is Yonebayashi's third feature film – and his first since leaving Studio Ghibli. Crybaby, an original anime series for Netflix. MARY AND THE WITCH’S FLOWER THE NIGHT IS SHORT, WALK ON GIRL メアリと魔女の花夜は短し歩けよ乙女

Young Mary is stuck spending Based on Mary Stewart’s popular During one whirlwind night in director’s reputation as one of Japan’s the last weeks of summer in the 1971 children’s novel The Little Kyoto, female student Otome, aka contemporary anime masters. Yuasa countryside with her Great-Aunt Broomstick, Mary and The Witch’s The Girl with Black Hair, flits from revisits a technique here that he used Charlotte. Whilst trying to alleviate Flower is the much anticipated spot to spot, determined to drink in his first adaptation of Morimi’s her boredom she has a chance debut film from Studio Ponoc, the night away. She crosses paths work, Tatami Galaxy, pairing encounter with a pair of mysterious the ambitious new Japanese with many eccentric characters, as ultrafast narration and dialogue cats who lead her into the nearby animation house founded by two- she parties not just in bars, but also with a constant stream of rapid-fire forest. There she stumbles upon time Academy Award-nominated through many other unexpected visuals to immerse the viewer in this an old broomstick stuck in the producer Yoshiaki Nishimura, places including a local book market, colourful, hallucinatory trip through overgrowth of a nearby tree, and a and fellow Academy Award- a guerrilla theatre performance and Japan’s nightlife. strange blue flower that temporarily nominated, former-Studio Ghibli a wedding. Has she even noticed grants her magic powers. As the director Hiromasa Yonebayashi. shy fellow student Senpai pursuing Following its recent Best Animated broom comes to life, Mary is lifted And it has been worth the wait her, as he attempts to engineer an Feature win at the Japanese Academy high into the skies, where she – this sublime blend of magic “accidental” encounter in which he Awards and 10 years after Yuasa’s discovers the mysterious Endor and fantasy, perfectly captures the can confess his love? debut Mind Game featured in our College of Magic, a secretive school charm and whimsy of a classic first Japanese Film Festival in 2008, for witches, which is presided Studio Ghibli tale, but with a Based on Tomihiko Morimi’s it is fitting that we can share his over by Madam Mumblechook. more updated, modern look. Mary bestselling coming-of-age novel latest creation (as well as his other and the Witch’s Flower will sweep of the same name and described 2017 hit Lu Over the Wall) with audiences of all-ages along with its by Yuasa himself as “a story about Irish audiences. charming, heartfelt adventure. ordinary college life”, The Night Is Short, Walk on Girl, cements this AKIO FUJIMOTO (born 1988) studied psychology in college, before enrolling in the KIKI SUGINO (born 1984) is a multi-talented actress, writer, director and producer. Visual Arts academy in Osaka. He completed his first shortPsychedelic Family in 2012, As an actress, she is perhaps best-known for her collaborations with director Koji and in 2014 began shooting his debut feature with a small crew. After several years in Fukada on the internationally successful filmsHospitalité (10) and Au revoir l'été (13). post-production, Passage of Life premiered at the Tokyo International Film Festival last She has also appeared in films such as Odayaka (12) and Chigasaki Story (14). October, where it won two awards in the Asian Future category, one of which was the She made her feature directorial debut with Kyoto Elegy (14), in which she also Spirit of Asia Award by the Japan Foundation Asia Centre. played one of the lead roles.

PASSAGE OF LIFE SNOW WOMAN 僕の帰る場所雪女

Several years after leaving Myanmar, Director Akio Fujimoto spent two One snowy evening, a young Snow Woman is the latest adaptation Khin and husband Issace are years editing his debut feature, hunter Minokichi and his older of the iconic story written by the living in Japan with their two sons, and the effort shows. Based on the mentor Mosaku take shelter in an Irish-Greek author Lafcadio Hearn, Kaung and Htet. They have settled real-life experiences of a Burmese old mountain cabin. As the pair best known for his collections down and are living a relatively family living in Japan, Passage try to keep warm, a ghostly woman of Japanese ghost stories and comfortable life. However, despite of Life is a meticulously crafted enters the cabin and kills the older legends. The story was famously repeated applications, they still have and deeply empathic film. Using man by spraying him with her adapted by Masaki Kobayashi for not been granted formal refugee primarily untrained actors – the icy breath. However, she spares the classic anthology film Kwaidan, status. After receiving a letter two young boys are the real-life Minokichi on the condition that he but this new version is a fresh, bearing bad news, Khin decides to sons of lead actress Khin Myat keeps silent about what he has seen. surprising interpretation of the return to Myanmar with the two Thu – Fujimoto compassionately The freezing night passes, and the material. Director and co-writer boys. Issace, however, is unwilling to tells the story of a family who can’t young man makes it home. Some Kiki Sugino – who also stars as the return home, and he decides to stay even rest easy in their own home. time later, he meets the beautiful, eponymous snow woman – tells the in Japan to earn some money for his Using long takes and understated mysterious Yuki, but he dare not tale in an artful and deliberate way, wife and children and continue the storytelling, Fujimoto has made utter a word about her striking while dotting the film with some formal immigration process. Split an impressive debut that is an similarity to the ghostly snow strikingly surreal and unnerving across two countries, all members achingly real and sympathetic woman. Minokichi and Yuki marry, moments. One of the most visually of the family find themselves portrait of the experiences and soon they have a daughter distinctive works to emerge from adjusting to a whole new way of life, of refugees in the 2010s. named Ume. But as Ume grows Japan in recent years, Snow Woman particularly seven-year-old Kaung. older, the events of that fateful is an extremely accomplished work night on the mountain continue to that casts a bewitching spell. haunt Minokichi and his family. YOSUKE TAKEUCHI (born 1978) graduated from Shibaura Institute of Technology SHINOBU YAGUCHI (born 1967) studied graphic design at the Tokyo University of Art before travelling to France to study painting. After several years in Europe – which and Design. He directed his first feature film,Down the Drain, in 1993. Since then he included winning the Jury’s Special Award at the exhibition of the Académie de Port- has become best known for comedy films that usually focus on coming of age stories Royal – he returned to Japan in 2004. Following on from several short films including or aspects of contemporary Japanese life. His films includeWaterboys (01), Swing Segutsu (06) and Katsuko (10), The Sower marks his first feature film. Girls (04), Happy Flight (08) and Wood Job! (14).

THE SOWER SURVIVAL FAMILY 種をまく人サバイバルファミリー

Mitsuo has just been released after Set against the backdrop of the One fateful day, the Suzuki family Survival Family is quite unlike a stint in a mental hospital, and is 2011 nuclear disaster and partially – your typical Tokyo middle class your typical post-apocalyptic film, welcomed back into the home of inspired by the life and work of family – wake up to a changed providing a lively and witty take on his brother, sister-in-law and two Vincent van Gogh, The Sower is a world. The electricity has stopped potentially bleak subject matter. young nieces. It is a happy reunion, probing, constrained psychological flowing, technology is no longer The increasingly abandoned and Mitsuo is determined to get his drama. As the lie grows more working, and people aren’t quite towns and motorways the Suzukis life back on track. One day, he takes complex over the course of the sure how to handle it. As the discover host all sorts of amusing his nieces out to a local amusement film, we see all the main characters days pass, an initially confusing setpieces, eccentric characters park. However, tragedy strikes when dealing with it in their own way. situation turns desperate – food is and unexpected complications. the youngest girl, Itsuki, is seriously Director Yosuke Takeuchi keeps running short, prices are inflating Writer / director Shinobu Yaguchi injured. The older girl, Chie, is the much of the focus on Chie as she rapidly, and society has effectively certainly doesn’t avoid some of the only witness – and when she is struggles to process the ripple effects shut down. With no idea of how darker sides of the situation, and quizzed about the circumstances of what she has said. With careful, the rest of the country – or indeed he addresses valuable questions of the accident, she falsely blames considered pacing and beautifully the world – is faring, the Suzukis about modern society’s overreliance Mitsuo. It’s a lie that will have major understated cinematography, decide to leave the city in the hope on technology. But, above all else, repercussions for the entire family… The Sower is a quiet film that is of finding food and shelter deeper this is an unusually delightful and frequently devastating. in the countryside. So, with only compelling story of one family their bikes and a limited caché brought closer together in the most of supplies, they embark on an unexpected of circumstances. epic, dangerous road trip across a country that is falling apart. AKIRA NAGAI (born 1970) studied at Musashino Art University. After his graduation HIROKAZU KOREA-EDA (born 1962) is one of Japan’s most internationally renowned in the mid-1990s, he became a prolific director in the advertising industry, making contemporary filmmakers. After an early career in documentary, his debut feature commercials for many prominent Japanese and international brands. Akira made Maborosi (95) won the rarely awarded Golden Osella for Best Director at the Venice his feature film debut withJudge! (14), a comedy set in the advertising industry, Film Festival. He has enjoyed further acclaim and global success with films such as which was followed by If Cats Disappeared From the World (16). Teiichi: Battle of After Life (98), Nobody Knows (04), Still Walking (08), I Wish (11), Like Father, Supreme High (17) is his third feature film. Like Son (13), Our Little Sister (15) and After the Storm (16). The Third Murder (17) picked up the Japan Academy 2018 prizes for Best Director and Best Film. TEIICHI: BATTLE OF SUPREME HIGH THE THIRD MURDER 帝一の國三度目の殺人

Private high school student Teiichi Based on a manga, Battle of Supreme When a factory owner turns up Although the great Hirokazu has one modest goal in life: to High is an unapologetically over- dead, it appears to be an open- Kore-eda is best-known for his become prime minister of Japan. the-top story of high school politics and-shut case. Employee Misumi family dramas, he’s no stranger to For this driven teenager, there’s one gone mad. This small-scale election has previously served a lengthy delivering the occasional curveball. important step he must achieve becomes a near life or death fight jail-term for a double murder, and he His latest departure comes in on his path to the highest office in for those involved. There’s no confesses to the latest killing when the form of The Third Murder – a the land: being elected president shortage of entertaining moments questioned by police. Misumi’s legal dark, chilly legal thriller. The film of the school student council. He’s as allies turn against each other and team – led by accomplished lawyer does, however, have the master’s only a junior, however, so before sworn enemies find themselves Shigemori – turn their focus to fingerprints all over it – this is his own campaign he must first brought together. helping their client avoid the death carefully-constructed, methodically- throw his support behind one of penalty. For Shigemori, however, paced cinema that digs deep into this year’s candidates. Arrogant but Amid the delightful comic book not everything about the case adds the human aspects of a troubling charismatic Rorando emerges as excess, Akira Nagai’s film also up, and he decides to dig deeper. He story. Kore-eda explores the a favourite, closely trailed by quiet reveals itself as a broader satire soon discovers the murdered man dehumanising nature of the legal genius Okuto. Teiichi tactically – taking aim at the corruption, had some dark family secrets that process, and the tricky nature of chooses a side, but soon finds arrogance and empty rhetoric cast fresh doubts over what actually ‘the truth’ in a case that quickly himself caught in a campaign of too often seen in modern politics happened on the night he was proves much more complex than dirty tricks and corruption. With around the globe. Don’t let its wacky killed. Not only that, but Misumi’s meets the eye. The Third Murder the election growing ever nastier, appearance fool you – Battle of own story gradually starts to shift. is an absorbing and morally Teiichi is forced to question both Supreme High has some real bite. ambiguous whodunnit where his current allegiances and his own there are truly no easy answers. future political ambitions.

KENTARO HAGIWARA (born 1980) graduated from the Art Centre College of Design in Los Angeles. He started his career directing television commercials and short films, BOOKING INFORMATION: He wrote and directed the short filmsPomegranate (06) and Pearl (07) and directed VENUES the award-winning short film Super Star (11). An alum of the inaugural Screenwriters Workshop in Tokyo – a collaboration between Sundance Institute and its longtime partner NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) – he has also worked on the film CORK The Gate Cinema North Main Street, Cork. Anniversary (16) and the television drama series Uso Nante Hitotsu mo Nai no (17). (021) 427 9595 | www.corkcinemas.com Triskel Christchurch Tobin Street, Cork. TOKYO GHOUL (021) 427 2022 | www.triskelartscentre.ie

東京喰種トーキョーグール DUBLIN Chester Beatty Library Dublin Castle, Dublin 2 (01) 407 0750 | www.cbl.ie

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Movies@Dundrum Dundrum Town Centre, Dublin 16 (01) 291 6802 | www.movies-at.ie

DUNDALK An Táin Arts Centre Crowe Street, Dundalk (042) 933 2332 | www.antain.ie

GALWAY EYE Cinema Galway Wellpark Retail Park, Wellpark, Galway (091) 780 078 | www.eyecinema.ie

Pálás 15 Lower Merchant's Road, Galway (091) 394800 | www.palas.ie DIRECTOR: Kentaro Hagiwara | 2017 | 120 minutes | Cert: CLUB STARRING: Masataka Kubota, Yu Aoi, Shunya Shiraishi LIMERICK ODEON Limerick Castletroy Shopping Centre, Limerick www.odeoncinemas.ie Based on a manga by Sui Ishida, Tokyo Ghoul is the latest in a Tokyo Ghoul unfolds in an growing line of anime and manga University of Limerick Kemmy Business School, alternative modern-day Japan properties to make the leap to live- Castletroy, Limerick where superhuman beings known action and the big screen. Director (no advance bookings, tickets available only on door) as Ghouls live among us. These Hagiwara remains faithful to the SLIGO Sligo Institute of Technology vampire-like creatures look like original material – he manages Aurivo Auditorium, Ash Lane, Sligo humans but are actually monsters to generate the right dramatic (no advance bookings, tickets available only on door) that feed solely on human flesh. tone and required sympathy for TIPPERARY Limerick Institute of Technology Clonmel Campus a character trapped between two John Slattery Lecture Theatre, LIT Campus, None of this matter to Ken Kaneki, world, whilst keeping the action Frank Drohan Road, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary an ordinary Tokyo student, until his taut, and the tension high. (no advance bookings, tickets available only on door) life changes following a dark and violent encounter that turns him Featuring a cast including Tipperary Excel Mitchell Street, into the first ever Ghoul-human Masataka Kubota (Death Note, Tipperary Town, Co. Tipperary hybrid. Forced to become a fugitive 13 Assassins) and Yu Aoi (Hana & (062) 80520 | www.tipperary-excel.com from his fellow humans, Kaneki is Alice), this is a thrilling adaptation WATERFORD Garter Lane Arts Centre O’Connell Street, Waterford. accepted by a group of Ghouls who not to be missed! (051) 855 038 | www.garterlane.ie teach him about Ghoul society, his new super-powers, and the fine line ADVANCE BOOKING & TICKET PRICES: between man and monster. → www.jff.ie → See individual venues for detailed ticket prices. → Concession available for students, unemployed and OAP. SCHEDULE

CORK DUBLIN Triskel Christchurch Light House Cinema SUN APRIL 8 Close Knit 18:15 TUE APRIL 10 Mary and the Witch’s Flower 18:15 MON APRIL 9 Passage of Life 18:15 THU APRIL 12 Survival Family 18:45 TUE APRIL 10 Mary and the Witch’s Flower 18:15 FRI APRIL 13 Passage of Life 18:00 WED APRIL 11 The Third Murder 18:15 Snow Woman 20:30 THU APRIL 12 At the Terrace 18:15 Tokyo Ghoul 22:30 SAT APRIL 14 Her Sketchbook 11:00 Gate Cinema Dad’s Lunch Box 13:30 FRI APRIL 13 Tokyo Ghoul 18:30 Anthem of the Heart 15:30 SAT APRIL 14 The Night is Short, Walk on Girl 18:30 Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms 18:00 SUN APRIL 15 Survival Family 18:30 Teiichi: Battle of Supreme High 21:45 SUN APRIL 15 Dear Etranger 13:00 The Sower 15:30 DUNDALK At the Terrace 18:00 An Táin Arts Centre Close Knit 20:00 SAT APRIL 21 Lu Over the Wall 18:00 The Night is Short, Walk on Girl 20:30 Movies at Dundrum TUE APRIL 10 Mary and the Witch’s Flower 20:00

The Chester Beatty Library SUN APRIL 15 Lu Over the Wall 14:00 SCHEDULE

GALWAY SLIGO EYE Cinema Sligo Institute of Technology SUN APRIL 8 Survival Family 19:00 MON APRIL 16 Lu Over the Wall 12:00 MON APRIL 9 Passage of Life 19:00 The Night is Short, Walk on Girl 18:00 TUE APRIL 10 Mary and the Witch’s Flower 19:00 WED APRIL 11 The Sower 19:00 TIPPERARY THU APRIL 12 At the Terrace 19:00 LIT Clonmel MON APRIL 9 The Night is Short, Walk on Girl 13.00 Pálás FRI APRIL 13 Tokyo Ghoul 18:30 Tipperary Excel SAT APRIL 14 The Night is Short, Walk on Girl 18:30 SAT APRIL 14 Lu Over the Wall 15.00 SUN APRIL 15 Close Knit 18:30 SUN APRIL 15 Anthem of the Heart 15.00 MON APRIL 16 The Third Murder 20:30 WATERFORD LIMERICK Garter Lane Arts Centre ODEON Limerick TUE APRIL 17 Dad’s Lunch Box 19:30 MON APRIL 9 Tokyo Ghoul 18:30 WED APRIL 18 Lu Over the Wall 19:30 The Third Murder 20:45 THU APRIL 19 Snow Woman 19:30 TUE APRIL 10 Mary and the Witch’s Flower 18:30 Close Knit 20:45 PLEASE NOTE: → All films are in Japanese with English subtitles University of Limerick WED APRIL 11 Lu Over the Wall 18:00 → All films, except where a classification is indicated e.g. PG, are unclassified. The Night is Short, Walk on Girl 20:15 → Unclassified films are subject to club conditions, i.e. open of over 18 years + only SPECIAL GUESTS

MARI OKADA TARA BRADY Mari Okada is an acclaimed Tara Brady writes for The Irish screenwriter who has made Times and is chairperson of The her directorial debut with the Dublin Film Critics Circle. animated fantasy feature Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms. Tara will host a Q&A with director Mari Okada after the Dublin Established in January 2010, Experience Mari will visit the Japanese Film screening of Maquia: When the Japan aims to celebrate and promote Festival for the Irish premiere of Promised Flower Blooms in Dublin Japan as well as Japanese-Irish culture Maquia: When the Promised Flower on Saturday April 14th. and heritage in Dublin and throughout Blooms in Dublin on Saturday Ireland. It marks the longstanding historical April 14th. She will participate in and warm relations that exist between a Q&A following the screening. our countries and peoples. Experience Japan is proud to be associated with Mari will also introduce the the 10th Japanese Film Festival. screening of Anthem of the Heart, which she wrote, on Saturday Experience Japan events have their highlight April 14th. during Hanami when a day-long festival is held in the beautiful parkland surrounds of Farmleigh. Hanami or ‘flower viewing’ is the renowned Japanese custom of enjoying the beauty of sakura or ‘cherry blossoms’ in spring. Crowds of family and friends come DUBLIN FILM CRITICS CIRCLE AT together for outdoor parties to welcome the THE JAPANESE FILM FESTIVAL 2018 new season and celebrate the beauty of nature.

Established in 2006, The Dublin Film Critics Circle offers the country's This year, Experience Japan's main festival full-time professional movie reviewers an opportunity to pool opinions day will be held on Sunday 22nd April at on recent releases, consider movie heritage and whinge about each Farmleigh in the Phoenix Park. Events other's shortcomings. will include martial arts, taiko drum performances, origami and craft workshops, This year, for the sixth time, a jury representing the DFCC members will and Cosplay fashions framed with traditional name their selections for Best Film and Best Anime at the 10th Japanese Kimono displays. Activities are family- Film Festival. oriented and mostly free of charge.

TARA BRADY The Irish Times (President of the Dublin Film Critics Circle) For more information about this and other DONALD CLARKE The Irish Times KEVIN FENNELL Near FM BROGEN HAYES events see www.ExperienceJapan.ie movies.ie NICOLA TIMMINS Average Film Reviews DANIEL ANDERSON CARA O'DOHERTY Cork Echo DEIRDRE MOLUMBY entertainment.ie DAVID TURPIN nomoreworkhorse.ie FFP-AD-99x210.pdf 1 23/03/2018 17:41

FFP-AD-99x210.pdf 1 23/03/2018 17:41

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