The fifteenth edition of CinemAsia in Amsterdam is approaching, so it is just as well to highlight the Japanese focus of this film festival.
The film festival is scheduled for 7 through 12 March at three film theatres in Amsterdam, namely Studio/K, Rialto De Pijp and Rialto VU. For six days, CinemAsia will take you on a multi-faceted trip through Asia. For this edition, more than 40 Asian films ranging from popular blockbusters, arthouse productions to inspiring documentaries will be on show from countries as China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Singapore, Myanmar and the Philippines to Germany, the United States and more. We will put the spotlight on the Japanese focus of the 2023 edition of CinemAsia for this article.
Small, Slow But Steady (2022)
Keiko, a young woman with a hearing impairment, has the desire to become a professional boxer. She works as a cleaner at a five-star hotel by day and, with the help of her committed boxing coach, puts in a lot of work to prepare for fights. Keiko is forced to navigate these uncertain times and find courage in herself and others as the boxing club faces closure due to the COVID-19 outbreak and the failing health of her coach, who is the club chairman. Part of CinemAsia competition, the winner will be announced during the ending ceremony of the film festival.
Directed by Shô Miyake, also known for his first film And Your Bird Can Sing (2018)
Screenings: Wednesday 8 March – 19:15 (Studio/K), Thursday 9 March – 18:45 (Rialto de Pijp), and Saturday 11 March – 21:00 (Studio/K) | more information
Japanese title: ケイコ 目を澄ませて | Keiko me wo sumasete
Tatsumi (2011)
Tatsumi honours the late manga artist Tatsumi Yoshihiro’s life and body of work. Young Tatsumi’s love for drawing develops into a method of supporting his family in post-war occupied Japan. Tatsumi starts to wonder why Japanese comics should only be geared toward children and only include adorable and whimsical stories despite his continued popularity. With the gekiga genre, he takes the lead in revolutionising manga by presenting a darker look and mature subjects that deal with the challenges of life. Part of CinemAsia’s Animation focus programme in collaboration with Kaboom Film Festival.
Directed by Eric Khoo, a Singaporean director and producer.
Screenings: Tuesday 7 March – 19:00 (Rialto de Pijp), Thursday 9 March – 21:40 (Studio/K), and Saturday 11 March – 12:00 (Rialto VU) | more information
Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman (2022)
The lives of three characters are intertwined in Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman, an adaptation of Haruki Murakami’s short story collection, following the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. After watching earthquake news bulletins on television for five days straight, Kyoko leaves her bewildered husband while he quits his job and travels across the nation searching for a lost cat. Meanwhile, his awkward middle-aged colleague, Katagiri, is visited by a giant talking frog asking for help to combat an imminent disaster. Part of CinemAsia’s Animation focus programme in collaboration with Kaboom Film Festival.
Directed by Pierre Földes, a composer, painter, and filmmaker.
Screenings: Tuesday 7 March – 19:15 (Studio/K), Friday 10 March – 21:30 (Rialto De Pijp), and Sunday 12 March – 14:00 (Rialto VU) | more information
Ginger & Honey Milk (2021)
International premiere. Under the rigorous lockdown, four young people deal with their individual challenges and hardships. Kento, a deaf student, tells his pal about his latest crush. Ginger & Honey Milk is a sensitive and tender depiction of different kinds of loneliness. Being young during a pandemic, the linguistic barrier between the deaf and the hearing, and the intersectional difficulties gay and deaf people experience in romantic relationships are all explored in the film. This film is part of the LGBTQ+ Programme and after the first screening, there will be a panel. If you join the second screening, you will be able to join a Q&A with the director of Ginger & Honey Milk.
Directed by Mika Imai, a filmmaker whose first language is Japanese Sign Language (JSL) and was recognised with a best film award at the Yokohama Deaf Art Festival.
Screenings: Wednesday 8 March – 19:00 (Rialto VU) + panel, Saturday 11 March – 12:30 (Studio/K) + Director Q&A | more information
Japanese title: ジンジャーミルク
In addition to the variety of films, you can also enjoy an added taste of Asia at Studio/K, provided by multiple Asian food vendors, attend panels and talks, karaoke, FilmLAB, and more special events. It is also possible to watch a selection of the festival films at home, including Ginger & Honey Milk, under the guise of CinemAsia at Home, think of it as a virtual festival.
Find more information about the 15th edition of the CinemAsia Film Festival, its film programme and side events can be found on the official website.
