Japan Foundation London has announced a new programme of FREE film screenings, their PRE-SUMMER EXPLORERS (26 to 30 JUN)! The lineup of comedies covers anime, time-travel, a feudal musical extravaganza & 60s noir. Here’s what’s showing.

By RADIANT CIRCUS

Twitter @radiantcircus | Instagram @radiantcircus

On a cold, rainy day, it’s good to know the summer is coming… Japan Foundation London has announced a programme of FREE film screenings to get you in the mood for a summer of feel-good vibes.

The programme of comedies includes everything you could need from wacky time-travel to ancient Rome and a musical extravaganza set in feudal Japan, to a slapstick twist on the film noir genre of the 1960’s. Junko Takekawa, Senior Arts Programme Officer at the Japan Founation, explains:

“Our PRE-SUMMER EXPLORERS season aims to make you shake and cry with laughter while presenting the multi-faceted and unique sense of humour in Japanese cinema!”

The Japan Foundation’s free screenings are always very popular, so we encourage you to click quickly. Oh, and in a tip of the hat to a cooler protocol for all free cinema, please only book if you can go and always cancel your ticket if you can’t… It’s just more fun for everyone that way.

Here’s what’s showing this season.

FULL PROGRAMME

NIGHT IS SHORT, WALK ON GIRL d. Masaaki Yuasa, 2017 (26 JUN 18:15, Soho Hotel Cinema):

‘Senpai’ is a man smitten with his inscrutable junior, The Girl with Black Hair. Though he plans to woo her by engineering a series of “coincidental” encounters, his plans are foiled at every turn by her exploratory nature as she roams through an abstract, bustling night in Kyoto. Will ‘Senpai’ succeed in grabbing the attention of the girl?

FUKUCHAN OF FUKUFUKU FLATS d. Yosuke Fujita, 2014 (29 JUN 12:30, Soho Hotel Cinema):

32-year-old Fuku-chan (Miyuki Oshima) is a painter who lives in a run-down apartment complex called Fukufuku Flats. He spends his days painting buildings, his nights mediating disputes between his neighbours, and his days off flying handmade kites. One day, Chiho (Asami Mizukawa), his first love and the woman responsible for the traumatizing incident that led to his fear of women turns up at the complex…

PRINCESS RACCOON d. Seijun Suzuki, 2005 (29 JUN 14:50, Soho Hotel Cinema):

The Lord of Castle Grace is accustomed to being the most handsome man in all the land. One day, however, his prophetess reveals a premonition – his son, Amechiyo (Joe Odagiri), will soon eclipse him. Unable to bear this news, the Lord orders his son’s death, casting him away to Sacred Mountain where Amechiyo is found by the celestial Princess Raccoon (Zhang Ziyi) with whom he soon falls in love. A cult musical from the vintage master Seijun Suzuki.

THERMAE ROMAE d. Hideki Takeuchi, 2012  (29 JUN 17:15, Soho Hotel Cinema):

Lucius (Hiroshi Abe), an architect of spa baths for the Roman Empire, inadvertently travels through time and finds himself inspired by a modern Japanese bathhouse. Based on a popular manga of the same title, this raucous comedy combines the twin clashes of time and culture, taking as its theme one of Japan’s best loved pastimes – bathing.

GETTING ANY? d. Takeshi Kitano, 1995 (29 JUN 19:40, Soho Hotel Cinema):

Nerdy, middle-aged Asao (Dankan) is a professional daydreamer whose one and only goal in life is to get laid. He embarks on a series of slapstick adventures in search of fulfilling his ultimate fantasy. Directed by Takeshi Kitano, this comedy is a rare glimpse into the mind of its creator’s alter ego ‘Beat Takeshi’, the comedian.

MURDER UNINCORPORATED d. Hiroshi Noguchi, 1965 (30 JUN 13:15, Prince Charles Cinema):

When the mysterious ‘Joe of Spades’ (Jo Shishido) assassinates one of the bosses of a powerful crime syndicate, the rest of its leadership, fearing they’ll meet a similar fate, call on the services of an assassin agency. The ragtag cadre of hired guns begin hunting down the unknown executor and employ some of the most peculiar killing tactics with mixed results… A rare opportunity to see the most famous Japanese comedians of the time on one screen.

All screenings are free to attend but booking is essential.

JAPAN FOUNDATION LONDON

Web jpf.org.uk | Twitter @jpflondon | Facebook @JapanFoundationLondon

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*THE SMALL PRINT: As accurate as we could make it. Apologies for any errors. Updates & corrections will be made to the online version. Event dates/times are subject to change by the venue/organiser. We try to only list events you can book for at the time of posting: however, some events may still be sold out. Please click quickly! We don’t filter by age/certification: all readers & subscribers should be 18+.