JAPANESE FILM FESTIVAL – “A Tribute to the Ninja”

The Japanese Embassy in cooperation with the Japan Foundation and the Michael Cacoyannis Foundation are organizing the Japanese Film Festival “A Tribute to the Ninja” from the 6th to the 12th of February 2014. The festival is taking place in conjunction with the Japan Foundation’s “Touring Japanese Film Festival in Eastern Europe 2013″ focusing on the subject of:

“The Secret of Japanese Technology: Ninja, Transformation, Teamwork”

The films which have been chosen for the festival are about Ninjas. Today their name is universally known but as their role in society has never been entirely clear they have acquired a somewhat mythical status outside Japan. The Ninja were special agents serving the rulers mostly during the 15th Century up until the Edo period, some 400 years ago. Within groups they would train both body and spirit and were responsible for gathering information and carrying out extremely difficult missions. They could be described as ‘specially trained forces’ who, either when working solo or as a group, were vital to the implementation of a mission.

Their accomplishments were presented in manga and in anime as well as in historical films where these traditions were not only depicted for simple entertainment but also became a subject for philosophical study.

The heavy demands placed upon the person along with the requirement to stay faithful to tradition and cooperate as a team are all necessary components for the completion of a mission and perfectly represent the typical characteristics of the Japanese people: diligence, tenacity, attention to detail as well as a skillfulness which leads to the achievement of high goals and standards. These characteristics which define the Japanese people are directly related to the financial growth between 1960 and the 21st century, via the lost decade, as they provided the basis for the development of Japanese technology and the expansion of Japanese companies abroad.

During the tribute there will be projections of six classics from the 1960s and one science fiction anime film from 1980. Each film presents the ability of the Japanese to transform, their skill and  meticulous attention to minute detail during the morphing from the true to the hidden identity, the beauty which results from this contrast and the excellent techniques used during the execution of their missions. The Ninja, who at times battles as an individual, in conflict with the group, and at other times endures a life of hardship in order to ultimately gain revenge, reflects the individualism of the Japanese which can be much more powerful than that of Westerners. The films aspire to contribute to the viewers understanding of the subject and the spiritual goal sought by the Japanese as well as the ideal in teamwork.

We hope that this tribute will help audiences across the world discover the Ninja – the secret agents known by name but whose identity remains a mystery – and through them understand the art of the Japanese to be able to “transform” during difficulty as well as the importance of teamwork in the attainment of a goal.

Thursday 6 February  –  Wednesday 12 February 2014

Michael Cacoyannis Foundation
206 Piraeus, Tavros, Athens
Tel: 210.341.8550, email:  info@mcf.gr

Japanese Embassy / Department of Culture
Tel:  210.60.9901
Email: cultural@at.mofa.go.jp
http://www.gr.emb-japan.go.jp

Entrance: €3 per screening

Thursday, 6 February
20:00 THE REVENGE OF A KABUKI ACTOR / Yukinojo Henge
Directed by:  Kon Ichikawa  1963/113’/Colour/Daiei Films
A classic period drama whose hero is an expert in the art of disguise and transformation.

Friday, 7 February
20:00 NINJA – A BAND OF ASSASSINS / Shinobi no mono
Directed by: Satsuo Yamamoto 1962/105’/Black and white/Daiei Films
A classic film about the Ninja which was subsequently  followed by eight sequels between 1962-66. In the film, the legendary outlaw hero, Goemon Ishikawa, is presented as a ninja. A revolutionary film which depicts with gravity the art of the Ninja accentuating their human side as warriors battling in the darkness.

22:00 SAMURAI SPY /  Ibun Sarutobi Sasuke
Directed by:  Masahiro Shinoda 1965/100’/black and white/Shochiku Films
The film discusses the story of the legendary ninja Sarutobi Sasuke from the city of Koga.

Saturday, 8 February
18:00 CYBORG 009
Directed by:  Masayuki Akehi 1980/130’/Colour/Toei Anima tion Co., Ltd.
A manga created by Shotaro Ishinomori

21:00 BRAVE RECORDS OF THE SANADA CLAN/ Sanada fuunroku
Directed by: Tai Kato 1963/90’/Colour/Toei Films
A period comedy about the legendary Juuyuushi (The Ten Heroes of Yukimura Sanada) from the times of the Civil Wars. The film combines rich elements of ninjutsu (the martial art of the ninja), satire and musical, presenting variations on some of the great legendary ninjas, for example, Sasuke Sarutobi as a hero with supernatural powers or Saizo Kirigakure as a girl etc.

23:00 NINJA-A BAND OF ASSASSINS 2/ Zoku Shinobi no Mono
Directed by: Satsuo Yamamoto 1963/93’/Black and white/Daiei Films
The sequel to the highly successful homonymous “Ninja-A Band of Assassins” which is said to have brought the style of the ninja to the Japanese art world.  The film depicts the tragic battle of the lone ninja, Ishikawa Goemon, against the military governors (shogun) Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

Sunday, 9 February
20:00 NINJA-A BAND OF ASSASSINS/Shinobi no mono
Directed by:  Satsuo Yamamoto 1962/105’/Black and white/Daiei Films

22:00 NINJA-A BAND OF ASSASSINS 2/ Zoku Shinobi no Mono
Directed by: Satsuo Yamamoto 1963/93’/Black and white/Daiei Films

Monday, 10 February
20:00 WARRIOR OF THE WIND / Kaze no Bushi
Directed by:  Tai Kato/1964/95’/Colour/Toei Company
The film is based on the homonymous work by the famous Japanese author of novels about historical events, Shiba Ryotaro. A period film about the complex relationships of vested interests between the individual and the organization.

22:00 THE REVENGE OF A KABUKI ACTOR / Yukinojo Henge
Directed by: Kon Ichikawa 1963/113’/Colour/Daiei Films

Tuesday, 11 February
20:00 CYBORG 009
Directed by: Masayuki Akehi 1980/130’/Colour/Toei Animation Co., Ltd.

22:30 WARRIOR OF THE WIND / Kaze no Bushi
Directed by: Tai Kato/1964/95’/Colour/Toei Company

Wednesday, 12 February
20:00 BRAVE RECORDS OF THE SANADA CLAN/ Sanada fuunroku
Directed by: Tai Kato 1963/90’/Colour/Toei Films

22:00 SAMURAI SPY / Ibun Sarutobi Sasuke
Directed by: Masahiro Shinoda 1965/100’/Black and white/Shochiku Films