J-FLICKS

This episode is dedicated to the works of one of the great pioneers of Japanese cinema - world-renowned filmmaker Mizoguchi Kenji. We look at his prewar classic "Naniwa Elegy" (1936) and its vivid depiction of human egoism, as well as "The Lady of Musashino" (1951), a film from the director's mature period about a tumultuous love triangle in postwar Tokyo. Offering advice on how to enjoy Mizoguchi's films is our guest, Markus Nornes, professor at University of Michigan and leading scholar of Japanese cinema, who will also perform "benshi" live narration to a scene from Mizoguchi's silent masterpiece, "The Downfall of Osen" (1935). Our Feature Selection this time is "The Unnameable Dance," a documentary on dancer and actor Tanaka Min, who's filmography includes appearances in international productions. [Navigator] Sarah Macdonald [Guest] Markus Nornes (Professor, University of Michigan)

This episode focuses on the Japanese filmmaker of the moment, Hamaguchi Ryusuke, whose cinematic adaptation of Murakami Haruki's novel "Drive My Car" won the Oscar for Best International Feature Film. After discussing the film's appeal, we further explore what makes Hamaguchi's works so unique with titles such as "Happy Hour," which first put him under the international spotlight in 2015, as well as "Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy," the winner of the 2021 Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize at the Berlin International Film Festival. Speaking of which, we look at some of the Japanese films that were presented at this year's edition of the festival, including "My Small Land," and the animated short that received a Special Mention, "Bird in the Peninsula." [Navigator] Sarah Macdonald [Guest] Markus Nornes (Professor of Asian Cinema, University of Michigan)

This episode sets the spotlight on the 75th edition of the Cannes Film Festival. Screened in competition was "Broker," the first release by Kore-eda Hirokazu to be shown at the festival since he received the Palme d'Or in 2018 for "Shoplifters." Then we look at Hayakawa Chie's speculative fiction feature, "PLAN 75." Proposing a unique take on the social issue of population aging, it was presented in the Un Certain Regard section and received a special mention in the Camera d'Or, a prize category dedicated to debut films by budding directors. Later on, an overview of the world's largest festival on Japanese cinema, Nippon Connection, held in Frankfurt. This year, the Nippon Honor Award went to actor Nagase Masatoshi. We'll also discuss his latest film, "Just the Two of Us." [Navigator] Sarah Macdonald [Guest] Alexander Zahlten (Professor, Harvard University)

The Short Shorts Film Festival and Asia is the largest international film festival in Asia dedicated to short films. On this episode, we focus on the latest edition held in Tokyo this summer featuring a selection of some 200 films from all around the world. Our main focus is on the prize winners in the Official Competition, which offers a chance to obtain a nomination for the Academy Awards' shorts categories. We also introduce two films that were showcased at the Venice International Film Festival this September: Fukada Koji's "LOVELIFE," screened in competition, as well as "A Man," directed by Ishikawa Kei and presented in the festival's Orizzonti section. [Navigator] Sarah Macdonald [Guests] Takegasa Shoko, Programing Director, Short Shorts Film Festival and Asia Alexander Zahlten, Professor, Harvard University

This year marked the 35th anniversary of Japan's largest film festival, the Tokyo International Film Festival, which was held in its regular in-venue format in late October. On this episode, we focus on some of the festival's lineup, including Imaizumi Rikiya's "by the window," screened in competition and winner of the Audience Award, along with "Small, Slow But Steady" directed by Miyake Sho and featured in the Nippon Cinema Now section, as well as Hiroki Ryuichi's "2 Women" which was presented in the Gala Selection. The festival's programming director, Ichiyama Shozo, talks about the current trends in major film festivals around the world. Later on, we look at a film shown at the Busan International Film Festival, "December" by Indian-born cineaste Anshul Chauhan. [Navigator] Sarah Macdonald [Guests] Ichiyama Shozo (Programming Director, Tokyo International Film Festival) Alexander Zahlten (Professor, Harvard University)