Japan’s Tragedy Sunday, July 21, 3:30 PM (101 min.) Having been diagnosed with lung cancer
Japan’s Tragedy Sunday, July 21, 3:30 PM (101 min.) Having been diagnosed with lung cancer on the day of the Northeast Japan Earthquake, a retired widower decides to refuse all treatment and lock himself in his cabin, determined to starve by his dead wife’s altar. His son, whose own wife and daughter went missing the day of the earthquake, follows him to the cabin to plea with his father to change his mind. And so, from a minimal premise, director Masahiro Kobayashi proceeds to draw this delicate, heartbreaking gem of a film. Kobayashi stares unflinchingly at his characters’ struggle, holding shots for minutes at a time, confronting us with the turmoil of the situation, itself both violent and placid in turn. While performing in front of such unblinking cameras might seem an intimidating act, meanwhile, the two principle performers are more than up to the task, embodying their characters wholly. The legendary Tatsuya Nakadai especially demonstrates his abilities, turning in a low-key but pitch-perfect performance as the grieving father. Simply, Japan’s Tragedyis a patient, unrelenting, slow-boil of a film hellbent on demonstrating the absolute devastation grief can wreak when given no channel of respite. For more information, or to get tickets, head to our website at: http://www.japansociety.org/event/japans-tragedy -- source link