Family Matters ¼
Stories Of Youth – Coming Of Age In Japan
This year’s program focus STORIES OF YOUTH deals with cinematic perspectives on growing up and the challenges for young people in Japan. Since the beginning of Japanese film history, young protagonists have been at the center of cinema’s narratives. Society in Japan is characterized by pressure to perform, fear of failure and conservatism. Themes such as withdrawal from society, bullying and suicide of young people, but also the rebellion against social norms and conformism are currently very present in Japanese cinema and in their abundance practically form a genre of their own.
In addition to numerous contemporary productions that focus on the coming of age of their protagonists, this year’s NIPPON RETRO provides an overview of how this theme has been addressed in Japanese cinema since the 1950s, with films by Nagisa OSHIMA, Shuji TERAYAMA and Nobuhiko OBAYASHI, among others.
The program focus STORIES OF YOUTH – COMING OF AGE IN JAPAN is supported by the Kulturfonds Frankfurt RheinMain.
Film Program
A Madder Red von Yuya ISHII
A Town Of Love And Hope von Nagisa OSHIMA
Angry Son von Kasho IIZUKA
Backlight von Ren SUDO
Belle von Mamoru HOSODA
Canary von Akihiko SHIOTA
Children Hand In Hand von Susumu HANI
Just Remembering von Daigo MATSUI
Let Me Hear It Barefoot von Riho KUDO
Mein Nachbar Totoro von Hayao MIYAZAKI
Muddy River von Kohei OGURI
Nippon Shorts II: Stories of Youth
One Day, You Will Reach The Sea von Ryutaro NAKAGAWA
Origami von Tadasuke KOTANI
Parasite In Love von Kensaku KAKIMOTO
Pastoral Hide And Seek von Shuji TERAYAMA
Sing A Bit Of Harmony von Yasuhiro YOSHIURA
Song Of A Dying Summer von Kohei SENGEN
The Approach Of Autumn von Mikio NARUSE
The End Of The Pale Hour von Hana MATSUMOTO
The Young And Wild von Nobuhiko OBAYASHI
Tokyo Kurds von Fumiari HYUGA
Under The Stars von Tatsushi OMORI
Unlock Your Heart von Rin SHUTO
What She Likes... von Shogo KUSANO
Young Murderer von Kazuhiko HASEGAWA
Accompanying Events
Online Lecture: How Do Children Live In Japan?
Panel Discussion: Stories Of Youth