The National Cherry Blossom Festival has gone virtual, and now we’ve made some of our planned festival programs virtual too! You can celebrate cherry blossom season with four Japanese films that exemplify its themes of the beauty and fragility of life, the cycle of the seasons, and the importance of the emotional bonds that bring us together. These selected films are part of the Criterion Channel’s extensive streaming library of classic Japanese films. If you are not a member already, Criterion offers a fourteen-day free trial.
-Tom Vick, Curator of Film
Join Tom on Sunday, April 19, at 2 pm for an online discussion of these films: https://zoom.us/j/3405656016
The Makioka Sisters
https://www.criterionchannel.com/the-makioka-sisters
Based on the novel by Jun’ichirĹŤ Tanizaki, Kon Ichikawa’s gorgeous drama follows the fading fortunes of a once-prominent family. The story revolves around their annual trips to Kyoto to view the cherry blossoms.
Early Spring
https://www.criterionchannel.com/early-spring
Originally planned as our April monthly matinee, Early Spring was the first film Yasujiro Ozu released after the critical and commercial success of his masterpiece Tokyo Story. This story of a married salaryman who has an affair with a flirtatious coworker offers all of the exquisitely composed imagery, emotional depth, and narrative subtlety that Ozu lovers crave.
Still Walking
https://www.criterionchannel.com/still-walking
Is staying at home with your loved ones driving you nuts? Hirokazu Kore-eda’s tender drama just might restore your faith in family. In part a tribute to Kore-eda’s idol, Yasujio Ozu, Still Walking movingly depicts the emotional highs and lows of a family’s annual remembrance day for a son who died tragically years ago.
Under the Blossoming Cherry Trees
https://www.criterionchannel.com/under-the-blossoming-cherry-trees
If Masahiro Shinoda’s supernatural thriller is to be believed, in ancient times passing through a forest of blossoming cherry trees was thought to cause insanity or worse. In this case, a bandit gets more than he bargained for when he kidnaps a noblewoman, only to discover that she is even more deranged than he is. Needless to say, this one is not for the kids.
Also in April, we’re presenting an online screening and discussion of the documentary Edo Avant Garde.
You can find details here: asia.si.edu/films.
