The War Films of Shirley Yamaguchi & Setsuko Hara - Film Series

Globus Film Series 2015

Stories from the War Series

House of Bamboo © 1955 20th Century Fox.

The Most Beautiful:

The War Films of Shirley Yamaguchi & Setsuko Hara

When: March 21-April 4, 2015

Where Japan Society

333 East 47th Street, NYC

(Between 1st and 2nd Avenues)

Map

The 2015 Globus Film Series, part of the Society-wide series Stories from the War, focuses on the work of two stars of Japanese cinema: Shirley Yamaguchi (aka Pan Shuhua, Ri Koran, Li Hsianglan, Yoshiko Yamaguchi, and Yoshiko Otake) and Setsuko Hara (aka Masae Aida), two of the most beautiful and powerful actors in the history of Japanese cinema. Both actresses were born in 1920 and achieved stardom in the so-called “national policy” propaganda films of the China and Pacific wars.

The similarities, however, end there. Through a selection of films made before, during and after WWII, this series illustrates how their respective roles on the silver screen transformed along with Japan itself—from young maidens serving an empire allied with Nazi Germany to mature women walking different paths in a defeated nation promoting democracy under American hegemony. This series is guest curated by Dr. Markus Nornes, Professor of Asian Cinema at the University of Michigan.

Shirley Yamaguchi

Film historian Inuhiko Yomota will present a special lecture on Shirley Yamaguchi entitled An Actress with a Thousand Names. The lecture is free to ticket-holders on March 28 at 3 PM. Seating is limited.

Tickets:
- All screenings (except China Nights): $12/$9 Japan Society members, seniors & students
- China Nights screening + reception: $15/$12 Japan Society members, seniors & students

Special Offer:
Purchase tickets for at least 3 different films and receive $2 off each ticket when purchased together! Special offer available only at the Japan Society Box Office or by telephone at (212) 715-1258. Offer not available online.

For complete information about the series, including the schedule, descriptions of the nine films that will be shown and the special lecture on actress Shirley Yamaguchi, click here.

Stories from the War
Marking the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII, Japan Society presents the Society-wide series Stories from the War which explores history and considers challenging issues that the U.S. and Japan faced surrounding WWII through a contemporary lens.