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Melbourne International Film Festival Program Released

posted on by Jon Hayward
MIFF 2014 to host several notable Japanese films including The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness and Giovanni's Island;

The Melbourne International Film Festival includes the already announced Patema Inverted with Q & A with the film's director, Yasuhiro Yoshiura. The other Japanese films of possible interest to Anime News Network readers are as follows;

The Tale of the Princess Kaguya

The movie is based on the famous Japanese folktale Taketori Monogatari (The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter), which centers on a princess named Kaguya who was discovered as a baby inside the stalk of a glowing bamboo plant. The film was directed at Studio Ghibli by co-founder Isao Takahata (Grave of the Fireflies, My Neighbours the Yamadas) from a screenplay he wrote in colloboration with Riko Sakaguchi. Animation director Kenichi Konishi (Tokyo Godfathers) was also responsible for the character designs and the music was composed by Joe Hisaishi. The film won the Animation Film Award at the 68th Mainichi Film Awards.

The Tale of the Princess Kaguya premiered in Japan in November 2013 and sold over 222,822 tickets in 452 cinemas on its opening weekend earning 284,252,550 yen (approxmiately $2.98 million AUD). As of the beginning of February 2014 the film has made a total of 2,313,602,733 yen (about $24,320 million AUD) and in March the distribution company GKIDS announced that they would release The Tale of the Princess Kaguya in North America later in the year.

The Tale of the Princess Kaguya was first screened in Australia at the Sydney Film Festival last month.

Screenings

  • Saturday 9th August at 1:00pm - RMIT Capitol Theatre, 113 Swanston St, Melbourne VIC.

You can view more information and ticket bookings on the MIFF Website.

The Kingdom of Dream and Madness (Yume to Kyōki no Ōkoku)

The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness is a documentary film directed by Mami Sunada (Ending Note: Death of a Japanese Salaryman) followed as she looks inside Studio Ghibli by following Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata as they direct The Wind Rises and The Tale of Princess Kaguya respectively alongside producer Toshio Suzuki as he works on both projects.

Mami Sunana stated that when she was approached to direct the project she was moved and considered the project a honor. She then began to delve deeper into just why it was an honor to be involved with the Ghibli directors and producer. According to those involved, Sunada seemed as invisible as air as she filmed the actions of the staff in the Ghibli office, letting them proceed with their work with no interruption.

Sunada also explained why she put the word "Madness" in the title of the film:

I think that having a dream entails having a bit of madness, no matter what the profession. There are times when you will go to extremes, and times when you are feared by others for that.

The film originally opened in Japan on the 16th of November 2013, GKIDS have licensed the film in the United States and Canada. Madman Entertainment has licensed the film in Australia according to the MIFF website.

Screenings

  • Sunday 10th August at 4:00pm - Forum Theatre, 154 Flinders St, Melbourne VIC.

You can view more information and ticket bookings on the MIFF Website.


© 2014 JAME

Giovanni's Island

Production I.G's Annecy-winning hand-animated Giovanni's Island film tells the story of two brothers living on the island of Shikotan. Their family and the people of the island hear of Japan's loss in the war and are told not to worry. However, their island gets caught in the middle of the continuing conflict in the west and is invaded by Russian soldiers. The boys meet a western girl on the island named Tanya and the older of the brothers, despite their language barriers, cultural differences, and warnings from friends, starts to fall in love with her. The boys' father gets lured out by the army is and is captured and taken to Siberia. The brothers embark on a journey to see their father again.

Produced by Production I.G, Giovanni's Island was directed by Mizuho Nishikubo (Musashi: The Dream of the Last Samurai, Video Girl Ai) from a screenplay by Shigemichi Sugita (From the Northern Lands) and Yoshiki Sakurai (Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Blood+). The film is being presented by the Japan Association of Music Enterprises (JAME) in order to celebrate the organization's 50th anniversary. Warner Entertainment Japan opened the movie in Japanese theaters on the 22nd February 2014 and Production I.G is handling international release of the film worldwide.

GKIDS is distributing Giovanni's Island in North America and Canada and has premiered a dub in L.A. Anime Limited has also licensed the film but there is no further information. Giovanni's Island has yet to be licensed in Australia and New Zealand.

Screenings

  • Saturday 9th August at 11:00am - ACMI: Cinema 2, Federation Square/Flinders St, Melbourne, VIC.
  • Sunday 17th August at 1:30pm - ACMI: Cinema 2, Federation Square/Flinders St, Melbourne, VIC.

You can view more information and ticket bookings on the MIFF Website.


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