ACF 180: ANA presents 2 free screenings of "Happy Flight" @ Japan Society

©2008 Fuji Television Network, Altamira Pictures, Toho, Dentsu

Happy Flight / Happi furaito

Directed by Shinobu Yaguchi

Starring Seiichi Tanabe and Haruka Ayase

Japan, 2008, 103 min.

ANA (All Nippon Airways) is presenting the East Coast Premiere of Happy Flight as "Nippon Eiga" Series: Part 15. The film premiered in Japan on November 15th, so we're getting to see it soon after it's release. ANA's two free screenings will be held at Japan Society on Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008.

Director Shinobu Yaguchi brought feelings of laughter, tears, and exhilaration to audiences with his films about boys’ synchronized swimming (Waterboys) and girls’ high school big band jazz (Swing Girls). The theme of his latest film, Happy Flight, is airplanes!

Yaguchi’s intent was to create a realistic, completely new film that oversees all corners of the aviation industry. Having ANA (All Nippon Airways) lend their Boeing 747 for filming and 500 staff members’ involvement, he created a wonderfully entertaining film chock-full of his love and fascination of airplanes.

The setting of the film takes place at an airport and on an airplane. A great variety of “aviation professionals” such as pilots, flight attendants, the ground crew, mechanics, dispatchers, controllers, and the bird patrol crew all support a single flight. They have only one mission: to secure the safety of the passengers.

Today was supposed to be any other day on the job, departing on schedule and heading safely to Honolulu, but…

Mark your calendars for December 3rd at the Japan Society. For both screenings, Director Yaguchi, leading actor Seiichi Tanabe (Memories of Tomorrow, Honey and Clover) and leading actress Haruka Ayase (Cyborg She, The Magic Hour) will make special appearances.

Admission is free, but you have to RSVP.

Japan Society

333 East 47th Street between 1st & 2nd Avenues

New York, NY

Doors will open at 1:15 for the 2:00 PM screening and at 6:00 for the 6:45 screening

Happy Flight was produced by Altamira Pictures (Shall We Dance).