THERE IS LIGHT (Kurayami kara Te wo Nobase)

Showings

Roxie Theatre Sat, Feb 15, 2014 9:15 PM
Roxie Theatre Tue, Feb 18, 2014 9:15 PM
Film Info
Director:Yukihiro Toda
Film Category:Narrative
Running Time:68
Country:Japan
Year of Release:2013
Premiere:West Coast Premiere

Description

Saori (23 year-old Maya Koizumi, real life model) decides to work at Honey Lips, a company that provides sexual services to disabled people (all of whom are played by non-actors that are handicapped). We follow Saori as she balances compassion and capitalism in this underground profession. There is Light is an innovative, offbeat gem that proves independent cinema is thriving in Japan.

This type of film could easily fall into the trappings of melodrama -- but director Yukihiro Toda’s directorial-debut maintains a fresh, unpredictable edge that is both realistic and emotional. Official selection: Japan Cuts NYC and Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival (Grand Jury Prize winner).
-Jeff M. Giordano

PLAYS WITH HERE, THERE
directed by Ichiro Tani
US Premiere
Japan
5 minutes
2013
In Japanese with English subtitles

The Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011 caused the meltdown of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. Massive amounts of radiation released by this disaster means that Japan will not be able to escape its dark shadows for many years. Here, There is a poetic portrait showing the daily routine of workers tasked with cleaning up the Fukushima meltdown, and the visions of a Tokyo girl who fears the effects of the disaster. Director Ichiro Tani’s first film.
-Jeff M. Giordano