![Image](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BZGY0M2ViMDktYjQ5NC00MzMyLTk4YjUtNGM5NDE1YzM5NzNjXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTE0MzQwMjgz._V1_QL75_UX500_CR0,0,500,281_.jpg)
By Paul Caspers
Junji Sakamoto was born in 1958 and shot his first 16 mm short in 1986. His lengthy filmography includes movies about boxers—including his debut feature “Knockout” (1989)—and yakuza, political thrillers, historical films, and domestic dramas, and much besides. He used to be known for macho protagonists, but when gave the stage actress Naomi Fujiyama her first starring role in “Face” (2000), he gathered international acclaim, which has eluded him since. Hailed as ‘one of the unsung heroes of modern Japanese cinema’ by the critic Tony Rayns, he never became a household name, but the qualities and the sheer diversity of his work suggest a re-evaluation is overdue.
Junji Sakamoto’s latest film “Okiku and the World” had its world premiere at the Rotterdam International Film Festival, ahead of its Japanese release in late April, and the writer-director, attending the festival for the first time in 22 years, agreed to answer a few questions.
Junji Sakamoto was born in 1958 and shot his first 16 mm short in 1986. His lengthy filmography includes movies about boxers—including his debut feature “Knockout” (1989)—and yakuza, political thrillers, historical films, and domestic dramas, and much besides. He used to be known for macho protagonists, but when gave the stage actress Naomi Fujiyama her first starring role in “Face” (2000), he gathered international acclaim, which has eluded him since. Hailed as ‘one of the unsung heroes of modern Japanese cinema’ by the critic Tony Rayns, he never became a household name, but the qualities and the sheer diversity of his work suggest a re-evaluation is overdue.
Junji Sakamoto’s latest film “Okiku and the World” had its world premiere at the Rotterdam International Film Festival, ahead of its Japanese release in late April, and the writer-director, attending the festival for the first time in 22 years, agreed to answer a few questions.
- 2/8/2023
- by Guest Writer
- AsianMoviePulse
Chicago – The fourth season of Chicago’s Asian Pop-Up Cinema series continues with the Chicago premiere of “The Projects” on Wednesday, April 5th, 2017, at the AMC River East Theatre in downtown Chicago. “The Projects” has been described as one of the “zanier elements of Japanese cinema.” For complete details and to purchase tickets, click here.
‘The Projects,’ Directed by Junji Sakamoto, Presented by Chicago’s Asian Pop-Up Cinema Series
Photo credit: AsianPopUpCinema.org
“The Projects,” directed by Junji Sakamoto, is a comedy involving Hinako (Naomi Fujiyama) and her husband Seiji (Ittoku Kishibe). They have lost their son to an accident, and they give up their herbal medicine business, moving to a housing project. They are contacted by Mr. Shinjo (Takumi Saito), because only their herbal remedies help an affliction that he has. When Seiji suddenly disappears, the mystery of his whereabouts and who Mr. Shinjo really is are all in question.
‘The Projects,’ Directed by Junji Sakamoto, Presented by Chicago’s Asian Pop-Up Cinema Series
Photo credit: AsianPopUpCinema.org
“The Projects,” directed by Junji Sakamoto, is a comedy involving Hinako (Naomi Fujiyama) and her husband Seiji (Ittoku Kishibe). They have lost their son to an accident, and they give up their herbal medicine business, moving to a housing project. They are contacted by Mr. Shinjo (Takumi Saito), because only their herbal remedies help an affliction that he has. When Seiji suddenly disappears, the mystery of his whereabouts and who Mr. Shinjo really is are all in question.
- 4/3/2017
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
![Jie Liu](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BYTg0NTA4NDEtYjAyYS00MzA3LWE4NDQtYzhhMThjOGNiZWY1XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTc4MzI2NQ@@._V1_QL75_UX500_CR0,26,500,281_.jpg)
Chinese director Liu Jie’s De Lan won best film at this year’s Shanghai International Film Festival, while Vito Palmieri’s See You In Texas won the grand jury prize.Scroll down for full list of winners
Liu’s rural tale revolves around a loan officer who travels to a remote village and strikes up a complicated relationship with a Tibetan woman. The director is currently working on Hide And Seek, a Chinese adaptation of a Korean thriller, co-financed by Village Roadshow Pictures Asia.
Palmieri’s See You In Texas tells the story of a young Italian woman who has to make difficult decisions when she is offered an opportunity to perfect her horse-riding skills on a ranch in Texas.
Among other winners, Finnish filmmaker Antti Jokinen picked up best director for Flowers Of Evil; Liu Ye won best actor for his performance in Cao Baoping’s Cock And Bull; and Naomi Fujiyama took best actress...
Liu’s rural tale revolves around a loan officer who travels to a remote village and strikes up a complicated relationship with a Tibetan woman. The director is currently working on Hide And Seek, a Chinese adaptation of a Korean thriller, co-financed by Village Roadshow Pictures Asia.
Palmieri’s See You In Texas tells the story of a young Italian woman who has to make difficult decisions when she is offered an opportunity to perfect her horse-riding skills on a ranch in Texas.
Among other winners, Finnish filmmaker Antti Jokinen picked up best director for Flowers Of Evil; Liu Ye won best actor for his performance in Cao Baoping’s Cock And Bull; and Naomi Fujiyama took best actress...
- 6/20/2016
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
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