The 2009 Asian Film Festival
Village 8 Theatres
September, 2009

Sponsored by Crane House

Ticket Prices:
$7.00 Evening
$5.00 Matinee

Film Schedule

 

	DEPARTURES   (PG13)          September 4–10 Academy Award winner for Best Foreign Language Film, Departures is a delightful journey into the heartland of Japan as well an astonishingly beautiful look at a sacred part of Japan's cultural heritage. Daigo Kobayashi (Masahiro Motoki), a devoted cellist in an orchestra that has just been dissolved, is suddenly left without a job. Daigo decides to move back to his old hometown with his wife to look for work and start over. He answers a classified ad entitled "Departures" thinking it is an advertisement for a travel agency only to discover that the job is actually for a "Nokanshi" or "encoffineer," a funeral professional who prepares deceased bodies for burial and entry into the next life. While his wife and others despise the job, Daigo takes a certain pride in his work and begins to perfect the art of "Nokanshi," acting as a gentle gatekeeper between life and death, between the departed and the family of the departed. The film follows his profound and sometimes comical journey with death as he uncovers the wonder, joy and meaning of life and living. (Fully subtitled) DAILY SHOWTIMES: 12:50p 6:00p Running Time: 2 hrs 20 mins
	DEATH NOTE I      (NR)       September 4-10 Directed by Shusuke Kaneko, known for the popular “Gamera” monster film series, DEATH NOTE was first released in Japan in 2006, becoming an instant smash hit. The story begins when ace student Light Yagami finds the Death Note, a notebook dropped by a rogue "Shinigami" death god named Ryuk. Any human whose name is written in the notebook dies. Upset with the justice system, Light takes matters into his own hands and vows to use the power of the Death Note to rid the world of all evil... DAILY SHOWTIMES:  3:25p 9:30p Running Time: 2 hrs 16 mins
	DEATH NOTE II: The Last Name         (NR)     September 11-17 The story begins on the heels of the first movie as Light Yagami joins the investigation team in pursuit of the serial killer known as "Kira." While L still strongly suspects that Light is "Kira," Light tries to uncover L's real name so he can kill him with his Death Note. Confusingly enough, a new rash of murders all around the world are taking place, with a "Second Kira" claiming responsibility. Light learns the identity of the Second Kira and suggests they join forces to get rid of L. Will L be able to catch "Kira" before he is killed? DAILY SHOWTIMES:  3:05p 9:30p Running Time: 2 hrs 31 mins
	BURMA VJ         (NR)       September 11-17 Director Anders Østergaard's award-winning documentary shows a rare inside look into the 2007 uprising in Myanmar through the cameras of the independent journalist group, Democratic Voice of Burma. While 100,000 people (including thousands of Buddhist monks) took to the streets to protest the country's repressive regime that has held them hostage for over 40 years, foreign news crews were banned to enter and the internet was shut down. The Democratic Voice of Burma, a collective of 30 anonymous and underground video journalists (VJs) recorded these historic and dramatic events on handycams and smuggled the footage out of the country, where it was broadcast worldwide via satellite. Risking torture and life imprisonment, the VJs vividly document the brutal clashes with the military and undercover police—even after they themselves become targets of the authorities. Winner of the International Human Rights Film Award at the 2009 Berlin Film Festival as well as the Editing Award at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival. (Partially subtitled) DAILY SHOWTIMES: 1:10p 6:00p Running Time: 1 hr 34 mins
	UNMISTAKEN CHILD         (NR)      September 18-24 The Buddhist concept of reincarnation, while both mysterious and enchanting, is hard for most westerners to grasp. Unmistaken Child follows the 4-year search for the reincarnation of Lama Konchog, a world-renowned Tibetan master who passed away in 2001 at age 84. The Dalai Lama charges the deceased monk's devoted disciple, Tenzin Zopa (who had been in his service since the age of seven), to search for his master's reincarnation. Tenzin sets off on this unforgettable quest on foot, mule and even helicopter, through breathtaking landscapes and remote traditional Tibetan villages. Along the way Tenzin listens to stories about young children with special characteristics, and performs rarely seen ritualistic tests designed to determine the likelihood of reincarnation. He eventually presents the child he believes to be his reincarnated master to the Dalai Lama so that he can make the final decision. Stunningly shot, director Nati Baratz's documentary is beguiling, surprising, touching, even humorous. (Partially subtitled) DAILY SHOWTIMES: 1:30p 6:00p Running Time: 1 hr 52 mins
	TREELESS MOUNTAIN          (NR)     September 18-24 Self-reliant seven-year-old Jin and her little sister, Bin, live with their hard-pressed mother in a cramped apartment in Seoul. But when their mother decides to leave in search of their estranged father, she drops them off to live with their alcoholic Big Aunt for the summer, whose hospitality is reluctant at best. With only a small piggy bank and their mother's promise to return when it is full, the two young girls are forced to fend for themselves. Jin tries to keep Bin out of trouble, not always successfully; they learn that toasted crickets are tasty, and become entrepreneurs. Counting the days, and the coins, the two bright-eyed young girls eagerly anticipate their mother's homecoming. But in the end it is at an unexpected home where Jin comes to learn the warmth and importance of family bonds in this beautiful, meditative and thought-provoking second feature from So Yong Kim, the acclaimed director of In Between Days.  (Fully subtitled) DAILY SHOWTIMES: 4:00p 9:30p Running Time: 1 hr 39 mins