The interesting thing about movies is that they show us diverse worlds. The bloody history of the mafia. A war that happened on a distant star. The encounter between a hitman and a young girl. The life of a samurai at the end of the Edo period. A soldier in a desperate situation. A battle against a killer by the lakeside. Crossing borders, eras, and time, they bring us surprise and inspiration. **”Wadjda” (2012)** is a Saudi Arabian film (co-produced with Germany) that was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film and the Venice International Film Festival. The director and screenwriter, Haifaa al-Mansour, is Saudi Arabia’s […]

If you talk about ‘what ifs,’ you’ll be disliked.That makes sense.It’s no fun to drink with someone who only talks about things like ‘If I had done that at that time’ or ‘If I had studied harder.’ However, ‘hypothetical stories’ stimulate the imagination. It’s the type of story that goes, ‘What if there was no such thing as XX in this world?’ What if there were no Edison in this world?What if there were no Osamu Tezuka in this world?What if there were no Steve Jobs in this world? What if? Without great figures, the world would turn upside down. Would someone else have invented the light bulb instead of Edison? Woul […]

If you can find something to immerse yourself in life, wouldn’t that life be a success? Of course, it would be even better if you could make a living out of that immersion (in other words, doing what you love). Furthermore, it would be fantastic to rise to the top in that world. However, the world is tough. Despite striving from childhood and becoming a professional, it’s rare to be able to thrive in that world. “Gachi-Boshi” (2017) is a story with the former professional baseball player Hamajima (Kenichi Abe) as the protagonist. While he was a baseball player, he wasn’t a professional in heart. He smoked, drank, and was disillusioned. One day, he received a not […]

Recent SF movies are challenging. Many people seem to have a basic understanding of “special relativity theory” (somehow), so despite advances in science and technology, the idea of “aliens coming to Earth” is theoretically very difficult. Hence, they appear before Earthlings by incorporating multidimensional narratives like in “Interstellar,” suggesting that time from past to future exists simultaneously like in “Arrival,” or overcoming the three-body problem (unsolvable by humans) like in “The Three-Body Problem.” It’s truly intricate. Depicting aliens in contemporary SF movies has become more complex than before. Filmmakers […]

There was a film movement called American New Cinema. It consisted of films released in the late 1960s to the 1970s such as “Easy Rider,” “The Graduate,” “Midnight Cowboy,” ” Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” and “Apocalypse Now.” Perhaps one of the reasons for the frequent use of young directors was the incorporation of messages or somewhat critical perspectives on society and politics, taking a different approach from traditional entertainment films. American New Cinema was enthusiastically supported by younger generations and had a significant influence on subsequent films. “Kramer vs. Kramer” (1979) is also a prod […]

For a certain generation, Wim Wenders is a special figure. During the era when art-house cinemas had a significant cultural impact, his films were considered “must-see movies.” Following the success of “Paris, Texas” (1985) and “Wings of Desire” (1987), Wenders’ works such as “The Goalie’s Anxiety at the Penalty Kick,” “Alice in the Cities,” and “Kings of the Road” were repeatedly re-released. While not necessarily fervent, Wenders’ films were quietly embraced. The influence he has had on contemporary filmmakers and visual artists is immeasurable (film students in Japan were only making road movies in the narrow confines).

Director Takeshi Kitano’s works are often associated with yakuza films, perhaps due to the influence of movies like “Violent Cop” and “OUTRAGE.” However, looking at his lineup, it’s evident that he has produced a variety of styles, including “A Scene at the Sea,” “Kikujiro no Natsu,” and “Zatoichi,” amidst his violent works. Director Takeshi Kitano, along with comedian Beat Takeshi, is capable of portraying both tranquility and dynamism, representing two extremes. Among his diverse range of works, “Kids Return” (1996), which focuses on boxing, stands out as a unique piece. Depending on the viewer, generation, and background, the interpretation of the main themes, such as sports films, youth dramas, comedies, tragedies, and yakuza films, can vary significantly.

Despite being an Italian film from about 30 years ago, a collaboration with France, ‘Cinema Paradiso’ (1988, directed by Giuseppe Tornatore) remains a highly popular and influential movie, telling the story of a projectionist and a young boy.