Japanese Film Showing - Final Take

Join us for the 2011 Japanese film evenings! All films are held at the University of Auckland Library Building Lecture Theatre 109-B15 and the University of Waikato, Lecture Theatre 3. We hope that you will enjoy the films and gain a deeper insight into various aspects of Japanese society.

July film: "Final Take" (Drama, 1986, 117min, PG, Director: Yoji Yamada)

The golden age of movies.

Final Take is Japanese director Yoji Yamada's love letter to 1930s moviemaking.

A Shochiku production set at the company's own Kamata Studios during the transition from silent film to talkies, it traces one woman's journey from extra to leading player. It's made with obvious affection and movie buffs will find it fascinating, but it plays as if Yamada was eager to make a film about the era but couldn't settle on a story or tone for his picture.

The environment and the movie stars at a Japanese film studio in the early '30s are recreated in this drama that looks back on a distinctive period in cinematic history. Using celebrated director Yasujiro Ozu as a model, fictional director Ogata discovers a new female star quite by accident.

Koharu Tanaka works selling candy at a studio theatre when she is given a part as a bit player. After the studio's top leading lady is embroiled in a scandal, Koharu is suddenly thrust into the limelight when she replaces her in a film and gains instant fame and fortune. But the going is not always easy, and she soon seeks help from unexpected quarters.

Admission free! No booking required. All welcome.
English sub-titles.

Presented by The Consulate-General of Japan, The University of Auckland, The University of Waikato, and The Japan Culture Centre, Sydney (The Japan Foundation).

Event listed by JapaneseConsulate

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