“A pleasing narrative about the arbitrariness of language and culture.”
Nov 9, 2021 • Subscribe
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“Yamanaka does not only reaffirm that she has talent but also that she improved her compositional style and her storytelling.”
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Nakamura succeeds in making the spectator care for Maria and impact him/her emotionally with her tragedy.
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A highly experimental and conceptual experience that might not be for everyone
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Short Movie Time: Nezumikozō Jirokichi (2023) review [Japan Cuts 2024]
The mix of elements supports the film’s aim well, that is to entice spectators to seek out the three films that remain from this somewhat forgotten master
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An instant stop-motion classic
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Short Movie Time: Bath House of Whales (2019) review [Japan Cuts 2020]
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Taka Jeremy Tsubota confirms his talent as director.
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“Maruyama’s narrative speaks powerfully to the spectator’s subjectivity – his fears and hopes – and enables his evocation of a glimmer of hope that remains present in this…
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Mari and Mari (2021) review [Japan Cuts 2021]
“A beautiful narrative that seems to bear no relation to our romantic life at first, but ultimately hits close to home.”
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Short movie time: North Shinjuku 2055 (2021) review [OAFF 2022]
“A pleasant experimental short.”


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A pleasant horror short-narrative that showcases Miyahara’s talent.
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Short Movie Time: Sad Girl (2021) [JFFH 2023]
A pleasant comical romance narrative.
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“Daihachi Yoshida succeeds in turning Shiota’s interesting story and fascinating world of publishing and bookstores into an engaging and pleasant filmic narrative.”


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A pleasant short about the need to find a desire to be able to give direction to one’s subject.


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Keishi Kondo offers the spectator an unsettling illustration of the Lacanian gaze.


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“A pleasant and truly satisfying ride for the whole family.”
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“A very satisfying satirical short thta shows that, within the job-seeking process, only the image matters.”
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Negishi proves that she is ready to tackle the daunting task of making a feature film.
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Short Movie Time: Bagmati River (2022) review [OAFF 2022]
“A beautiful poetic short that elegantly plays with the contrast between life and death.”
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A quirky little narrative that explores the necessity of forming inter-subjective social bonds.
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An exquisitely crafted narrative that touchingly shows that a simple encounter, a simple exchange of signifiers, can turn a wish to die into a desire to life.
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Short Movie Time: Kyonetsu (2017) [JFFH 2020]
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Short Movie Time: Kanro (2023) [OAFF 2023]
A simple but effective short that explores inter-subjective distance and the desire to bridge it in a surprising and satisfying way.
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Short Movie Time: Long-Term Coffee Break (2022) [Female Gaze – Japan Society]
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The exploration of the frail stability of an obsessional neurotic does not miss its impact on the spectator.


Japan Cuts Announces Lineup for 2021 Hybrid Edition
In-person & online Aug. 20 – Sept. 2
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Hand (2022) review [Japan Cuts 2023]
Matsui avoids delivering an exploitative erotic piece merely to be enjoyed by male audiences.
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Kubi (2023) review [Japan Cuts 2024]
One of best period dramas in recent years.
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A fabulous narrative that explores the destructive effects caused by the radical misunderstanding that marks the field of speech and the refusal to speak to one’s child as…
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Konaka offers the spectator a heartwarming invitation to re-find, within oneself, one’s (nearly extinguished) passion for creation.
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Miyazaki creates a moody narrative that highlights the equivocal functionality of music for the subject as well as the destructive impact of not being able to create an…
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Winny (2023) review [Japan Cuts 2023]
Matsumoto offers a serene insight in how the Other of the law curtails a subject and, indirectly, sabotages the prospects of a new industry.
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Short Movie Time: TOMA #2 (2023) [OAFF 2023]
A touching narrative that explores the difficulty for the subject to give the Othering effect of dementia on a family member a place


Short Movie Time: Detouring Blue (2023) (OAFF 2023)
A highly recommended short that touchingly shows that what dooms the subject to the de-subjectifying effect of the societal Other or to the birth of a subjective deadlock…