ACF 788: Shadows of the Rising Sun, a four film weekend series, coming to Japan Society

MERRY CHRISTMAS, MR. LAWRENCE © 1983 Shochiku Co., Ltd.

Filmmakers from Japan and China Explode the Truth of War
in a 4-Film Series featuring the NY Premiere of "Caterpillar"

Shadows of the Rising Sun: Cinema and Empire

Where: Japan Society
333 East 47th Street (between 1st & 2nd avenues) NYC
When: Friday-Sunday, December 10-12, 2010

"In war, truth is the first victim."
--Aeschylus, Greek tragic poet (525 BC - 456 BC)

War is honor, glory, and the wisdom of the nations swept away by the wind of fear and the fires of bloodshed. Japan Society's next film series tells the multifaceted story of Japan's quest for Empire and its tragic downfall, as seen through the eyes of filmmakers from Japan and China.

From December 10-12, Shadows of the Rising Sun: Cinema and Empire encompasses four epoch-making titles, poised between past and present, exploring the conflagration and its dreadful consequences. Featured films range from Kon Ichikawa’s 1959 arch-classic Fires on the Plain to the New York Premiere of Koji Wakamatsu’s recent and controversial shocker Caterpillar (which earned main actress Shinobu Terajima the 2010 Silver Bear for Best Actress at the Berlin Film Festival).

With additional titles Devils on the Doorstep and Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence, the series blast the confines of history and truth, beyond the bright madness of battle and heroism, into the metaphysical realm of death, evil, sacrifice and the sublime.

Tickets are $12/$9 members, students & seniors.

AsianCineFest will be carrying more information and at least some reviews in future posts.