Katsudo Shashin: Samurai Film Screening, Sept. 30, 2007
The Japanese American Cultural and Community Center and The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles celebrate Samurai arts with a month-long of events surrounding the highly anticipated “Bugu: The Spirit of Samurai Warrior” exhibition in the JACCC George J. Doizaki Gallery (Sept. 15- Nov. 10, 2007), and the annual film series “Katsudo Shashin (Moving Pictures): Classic Japanese Films return to Little Tokyo,” featuring “Three Outlaw Samurai,” “Bandits vs. Samurai Squadron,” “Samurai Rebellion,” and “Throne of Blood” all on September 30, 2007 (See Times Below) at the Aratani/Japan America Theatre.
The Los Angeles Kyudo Kai will set out to heighten the experience of the film screening as they demonstrate traditional Japanese archery from 7:30 p.m. in the theatre before “Throne of Blood” screens.
Bugu Exhibition, Sept 15 – Nov 10, 2007
The JACCC is excited to be the first stop in the United States for the International traveling show that features an exquisite and extensive exhibition of traditional Japanese arms and armor. With “Bugu: Art of the Samurai Warrior,” gallery goers can travel back into feudal Japan and glance at some of the most dangerous and romanticized professions of all time, the Samurai Warrior and Ninja.
The exhibition will examine how Bugu is represented and conveyed through manga (Japanese comics), and will include a section for gallery-goers to try on replica armor and include video of kendo, sumo and yabusame bouts.
Film Screening, Sunday, Sept 30, 2007
Coinciding with the Bugu exhibition, the focus of this year’s film series is The Sword: tracing each celluloid strike it wields through four distinct stories, and a multitude of characters.
Katsudo Shashin opens up with a focus on famed cult director Hideo Gosha, a visually adept, yet greatly unknown auteur outside of Japan. Gosha gained respect for his ability to balance the violence and sensuality his subject matter demands with a strong artistic sense and carefully constructed storylines.
11a.m.: “Sambiki no samurai (Three Outlaw Samurai),” 1964. Gosha’s directorial debut stars Tetsuro Tamba as a wandering ronin (masterless samurai) who joins together with a small village in a fight to the death against a cruel magistrate. (B&W)
1 p.m.: “Kumokiri Nizaemon (Bandits vs. Samurai Squadron),” 1978. This film teams Gosha with one of his favorite leading men, Tatsuya Nakadai, who portrays a former samurai warrior who abandons his class to become the leader of a gang of thieves. (Color)
5 p.m.: “Joi-uchi: Hairyo tsuma shimatsu (Samurai Rebellion),” 1967. Directed by respected chambara expert Masaki Kobayashi, stars Toshiro Mifune and Tatsuya Nakadai (who previously worked opposite each other in “Yojimbo” and “Sanjuro”) sets love as the backdrop in a determined, yet seemingly futile battle for justice. (B&W)
Before this screening closes showcasing one of the great pairings in cinema history with film legends Akira Kurosawa and Mifune as they set out to juxtapose William Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” to feudal period Japan, the Los Angeles Kyudo Kai will demonstrate to theatre-goers the power, accuracy and artistry of traditional Japanese Archery; an art that plays a pivotal role in the final film of the day.
7:30 p.m.: “Kumonosu-jo (Thrown of Blood)” 1957. Directed Kurosawa and stars Mifune who portrays Washizu Taketori, a feudal lord whose bloodthirsty ambition is surpassed only by that of his wife’s portrayed by Isuzu Yamada. In the final scene of this powerfully shot film, Kurosawa scrapped the idea of effects and instead opted to use real archers with arrows shooting at Mifune to heighten the sense of reality. (B&W)
Due to graphic images of violence and strong sexuality “Sanbiki no samurai (Three Outlaw Samurai),” “Kumokiri Nizaemon (Bandits vs. Samurai Squadron),” and “Joi-uchi: Hairyo tsuma shimatsu (Samurai Rebellion),” are for mature audiences only. All films are in Japanese with English subtitles.
“Bugu: The Spirit of Samurai Warrior” and “Katsudo Shashin (Moving Pictures)” is made possible in part by generous funding by the Japan Foundation, Los Angeles.
Admission to the Doizaki Gallery is Free. A Festival Pass for the films may be purchased for $30 and for $25 JACCC members. Single tickets (per film) cost $10, $8 JACCC members, and $6 for students. For information call (213) 628-2725 ext. 133. The JACCC is located at 244 S. San Pedro Street in Little Tokyo in downtown Los Angeles. Convenient parking is located on Second Street, adjacent to the JACCC.
DOIZAKI GALLERY SCHEDULE, Sept 15 – Nov 10, 2007
The George J. Doizaki Gallery is open:
Sunday, September 30: 10:30 a.m.-7:15 p.m.
Tuesday - Friday 12 noon to 5pm
Saturdays: 11 am to 4pm
Closed Sundays, Monday and Holidays
Please call to view gallery beyond normal operating hours or for docent tour.
FILM SCHEDULE, Sunday, Sept 30, 2007
11a.m.: "Sambiki no samurai (Three Outlaw Samurai)"
1 p.m.: "Kumokiri Nizaemon (Bandits vs. Samurai)"
5 p.m.: "Joi-uchi: Hairyo tsuma shimatsu (Samurai Rebellion)"
7:30 p.m.: "Kumonosu-jo (Throne of Blood)"