Americans flock to subtitled films the way the Swedes flock to church. That is, hardly ever. So when Asian films make their way into the theaters of U.S. shopping malls, it is no small feat.
Mandarin-language cinema can claim the biggest Asian hits in the United States today with Edward Yang's critically acclaimed "A One and a Two," and Ang Lee's "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," which continues to shovel in box-office receipts worldwide after taking four Oscars last week. Is Japanese film poised to achieve similar successes abroad?
Mark Schilling, veteran reviewer for The Japan Times, offers here a detailed look at the Japanese film industry's output in the last 10 years.