MANILA, Philippines – The family is the focus of this year's Eiga Sai, or Japanese Film Festival, which will be held at the Shang Cineplex, Shang-La Plaza Mall in Mandaluyong City from July 4 to 13.
The 2014 Eiga Sai coincides with the Philippine-Japanese Friendship Month.
This year's film festival will showcase 16 contemporary Japanese films—the largest selection of films to be presented in the annual film festival—that center on the theme of family.
Screenings will also be held in Davao City and Cebu City from July 25 to August 10.
Here's a line-up of films and their Shangri-La Plaza screening schedule for this year's Eiga Sai (Photo courtesy of the Japan Foundation):
Homeland
Summary: A family rediscovers their reconnections with one another, after the Great East Japan Earthquake in Fukushima.
Schedule: July 3 (7 PM), July 12 (7:30 PM)
Like Father, Like Son
Summary: The film, winner of the 2013 Cannes Film Festival Jury Prize, questions the definition of a true family through a story about children swapped at birth.
Schedule: July 5 (7:30 PM), July 11 (7:30 PM), July 13 (4:30 PM)
Fly, Dakota, Fly
Summary: A historical drama based on a true incident that occurred after World War II
Schedule: July 6 (4:30 PM), July 10 (1:30 PM)
Reunion
Summary: A man engaged in the funeral business volunteers his services at the temporary morgue in a high school gymnasium after the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.
Schedule: July 12 (4:30 PM)
Hearts Together
Summary: A documentary about keyboardist Grammy Award Winning Bob James and Japanese pop singer Seiko Matsuda who performed in a charity concert together praying for recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake.
Schedule: July 7 (1:30 PM)
A Story of Yonosuke
Summary: A coming-of-age film that’s based on the serialized newspaper novel by Yoshida Shuichi about a young man who cannot say no to the requests of others.
Schedule: July 6 (7:30 PM), July 9 (7:30 PM)
The Kirishima Thing
Summary: A story about the disappearance of Kirishima, a star athlete of the volleyball club and how his affects every person in his school.
Schedule: July 6 (1:30 PM), July 11 (4:30 PM)
Momoiro sora o
Summary: A film about a high school girl’s journey through adolescence, told through gripping black-and-white cinematography.
Schedule: July 4 (7:30 PM), July 8 (4:30 PM)
Hospitalité
Summary: A film that depicts the transformation of an ordinary family upon the arrival of a visitor, who claims to be from a wealthy family who once provided them with financial support.
Schedule: July 4 (1:30 PM), July 10 (7:30 PM)
Tug of War!
Summary: The film tells the struggles of a women’s tug-of-war team who wants to promote their hometown through sports.
Schedule: July 9 (4:30 PM), July 11 (1:30 PM)
Until the Break of Dawn
Summary: A touching story about a young man who becomes a ‘tsunagu’ or an emissary who can reunite the living with the dead.
Schedule: July 5 (1:30 PM), July 13 (7:30 PM)
Tamako in Moratorium
Summary: A young woman finds a compelling reason to finally move forward with her life after lazing around in her father's house season after season.
Schedule: July 4 (4:30 PM), July 8 (7:30 PM), July 12 (1:30 PM)
Casting Blossoms in the Sky
Summary: A female reporter uncovers the people of Nagaoka, a city that overcame numerous wars and disasters.
Schedule: July 7 (4:30 PM), July 10 (4:30 PM)
Symphony in August
Summary: A movie based on the autobiography by singer-songwriter Ai Kawashima.
Schedule: July 7 (7:30 PM), July 9 (1:30 PM)
Wolf Children
Summary: An animated film that chronicles thirteen years in the lives of a mother and the two children she had with her young lover, a wolf man.
Schedule: July 5 (4:30 PM), July 13 (1:30 PM)
Robo-G
Summary: A consumer electronics company employee creates an outrageous plan to pass off a human in a suit as a bipedal robot.
Schedule: Screenings will be in Davao City - Chuck Smith