The minitheater “Stranger” in Kikugawa, Sumida-ku, Tokyo, will present special screenings of directors Hong Sang-soo and John Huston.
From Friday, June 28, to Thursday, July 18, the “JAIHO Collaborations: Hong Sang-soo Special Screenings” will be held. This event commemorates the nationwide release of his latest film “WALK UP,” starting June 28, including screenings at “Stranger.” The special screenings will feature five unique dialogue-driven films. Selections include ‘Tale of Cinema’ (2005), which was ranked 8th in Cahiers du Cinéma’s top ten, ‘Hotel by the River’ (2018), which ranked 6th, and the short film ‘List’ (2011), which has not been released in Japan.
From Friday, July 19, to Thursday, August 8, a “John Huston Retrospective” will be held. Known for the film adaptation of the musical “Annie” and for winning the Academy Awards for Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay for ‘The Treasure of the Sierra Madre,’ John Huston directed a wide range of films exploring human ambition and its setbacks, and adapting works by renowned authors. This retrospective will feature five films spanning from his early works in the 1940s to his later works in the 1980s, including some not previously released in Japan. Screenings will include the documentary ‘Let There Be Light,’ which covers the treatment of soldiers with PTSD during World War II, the adaptation of Stephen Crane’s novel ‘The Red Badge of Courage,’ and Huston’s final film, ‘The Dead’ (1987), based on James Joyce’s “Dubliners.”
Opened in September 2022, “Stranger” is a 49-seat cinema that features Kinet Galle’s chairs, transferred from Niigata’s Tokamachi Cinema Paradise, and speakers for a 300-seat venue from Yamagata’s Tsuruoka Machinaka Kinema. The projector is an Espedeo Supra-5000 by GDC Technology, a product that has won multiple international awards. In February 2024, the theater’s management was reorganized, and it now operates in tandem with an adjacent café, fulfilling a community-centric role. Various events are held, including DJ events related to the films, the “Tiny Space Theater,” where short films are watched and discussed with directors, cast, and producers, and the “Tiny Space Gallery,” which hosts solo exhibitions by artists.
Hong Sang-soo Special Screenings
Hong Sang-soo won the Silver Bear (Grand Jury Prize) at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival for the fifth time in two years. To commemorate the release of ‘WALK UP,’ the latest Japanese theatrical release by Hong Sang-soo, a master filmmaker who continues to introduce Korean cinema to the world, we have selected five gems, including films that have never been shown in Japan. We are pleased to present an intoxicating experience of unique conversational drama. ‘WALK UP’ will open in theaters nationwide on June 28 (Fri.) at Stranger and other theaters.
June 28 (Fri.) ~ July 18 (Thu.) *Screening details (number of screenings for each film) to be determined.
Admission: ¥1,500 (no discounts) *Simultaneous screenings of “List” and “Leaves of Grass” will be combined for ¥1,500.
‘Tale of Cinema’ (2005)
A unique love story directed by Hong Sang-soo that tells the story of a man and a woman who fall in love after watching a movie in two parts. This is a popular film that has never been released in Japan.
‘The List’ (2011)
A short film released in 2011 that has never been shown in Japan. Jung Yu-mi (Kim Ji-young, Born in 1982) and Yoon Yojung, who has won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, play a mother and daughter.
‘Leaves of Grass’ (2018)
A medium-length film starring Kim Min-hee and directed by Hong Sang-soo, his 22nd film. A conversation between a man and a woman unfolds in a back-alley coffee shop.
‘Yourself and Yours’ (2016)
Starring Kim Joo-hyuk and Lee Yoo-young. A dry romantic comedy depicting an absurd and thrilling love game.
‘Hotel by the River’ (2018)
2020 “Cahiers du Cinema” 6th place in the Best Ten. A nostalgic human drama that takes place in a quiet hotel along Yeonam-dong.
John Huston Special Screenings
John Huston made his directorial debut in 1941 with ‘The Maltese Falcon,’ won Academy Awards for Best Director and Best Screenplay for ‘The Treasure of the Sierra Madre’ in 1948, and brought Humphrey Bogart his first Academy Award for Best Actor for ‘The African Queen’ in 1951. He has made numerous films in a variety of genres, including films about human ambition and its frustrations, and adaptations of works by famous authors. This is a special screening of five of his films from his early years in the 1940s to his later years in the 1980s, including rare films that have never been shown in Japan. (One other film will be screened as follows)
July 19 (Friday) ~ August 8 (Thursday) *Screening details (number of times each film will be shown) to be determined.
Admission: 1,500 yen
‘Let There Be Light’ (USA/1946/58 min.)
A documentary film about soldiers suffering from PTSD as a result of their experiences in World War II and their treatment. Although produced at the request of the U.S. military, the film was sealed for over 30 years due to its content.
‘The Red Badge of Courage’ (USA/1951/69 min.)
A masterpiece of war cinema that exposes the conflicts and fears of young soldiers against the backdrop of the Civil War. It is an adaptation of Stephen Crane’s Allied novel and stars Audie Murphy, an actual hero of World War II.
‘Fat City’ (USA / 1972 / 100 min.)
Director Huston, a boxer himself, adapted Leonard Gardner’s original novel about the interaction and repulsion between a former professional boxer and a new boxer. The film depicts the solitary and muddled struggle between the men.
‘The Dead’ (UK, Ireland, USA / 1987 / 83 min.)
Based on “The Dead,” one of James Joyce’s short stories in “Dublin Citizens,” Huston’s last film depicts the events of one night in the life of the people gathered at a ball. His daughter, Angelica, played the lead role.
