Film / Reviews Oct 16, 2019
'The Promised Land': Zeze's latest is far from heaven-sent
by Mark Schilling
Takahisa Zeze unveils his latest feature, an ambitious film based on two short stories by best-selling author Shuichi Yoshida
Film / Reviews Sep 11, 2019
'They Say Nothing Stays The Same': Stunning visuals and a stellar cast
by James Hadfield
Actor Joe Odagiri makes his directorial debut with a beautifully shot tale of the life of a boatman in a Japan of the past.
Film Mar 22, 2017
Shinobu Yaguchi can make sparks fly, even off the grid
by Mark Schilling
When I met Shinobu Yaguchi at a Chicago sushi restaurant on March 1, I made my usual mistake with well-known directors: mention that I had interviewed him before. He, understandably, blanked, since the interview was 20 years ago for his 1997 indie comedy "My ...
Film / Reviews Nov 23, 2016
'The Rondo of the Squall': More damp squib than thrilling storm
by Mark Schilling
The film's formulas cover lead actor Hiroshi Abe's best efforts in a white blanket of mediocrity.
Film / Reviews Apr 13, 2016
Okita keeps every hair in place
by Mark Schilling
Millions of Japanese have come from the countryside to find their fortunes in Tokyo, with most arriving in the postwar boom when jobs were everywhere and the future looked bright. But many, like the punk rocker hero of Shuichi Okita's offbeat, warm-hearted family comedy ...
Film / Reviews Feb 4, 2015
Present For You: Baffling but pioneering stop-motion film
by Mark Schilling
Stop-motion animation, in which objects are photographed frame by frame to achieve the illusion of motion, is nearly as old as the movies. But as recent films by Nick Park ("Chicken Run"), Henry Selick ("The Nightmare Before Christmas"), Tim Burton ("Frankenweenie") and Wes Anderson ("Fantastic ...