UNIQLO Festival of Films from Japan at the MFA
| Venue: | Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA) |
| Hours: | Hours Vary see below |
| Ages: | Kids, Teens, Adults |
| In/Outdoor: | Indoor |
| Cost: | Free |
| Category: | Movies |
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Hosts Seventh-Annual UNIQLO Festival of Films from JapanStill from 'Monster' (2023), by Hirokazu Kore-eda.
From cult classics to buzzy new releases, five stunning feature films produced in Japan are screening at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA), from February 23 through April 4, 2024.
This year's UNIQLO Festival of Films from Japan is the seventh-annual showcase of the best of Japanese cinema made possible through the MFA’s 10-year partnership with global apparel retailer UNIQLO. The festival kicks off with a screening of House (Hausu) (1977), an experimental horror film by Nobuhiko Obayashi.
Tickets for all screenings are available for purchase online: $12 for MFA members and $15 for nonmembers:
House (Hausu), directed by Nobuhiko Obayashi (Japan, 1977, 88 min.)
February 23, 7:00 pm
In this psychedelic cult classic, a young schoolgirl travels with six classmates to her ailing aunt’s country home. There, the group comes face-to-face with evil spirits, a demonic house cat, a bloodthirsty piano and other ghoulish visions, all realized by director Nobuhiko Obayashi via inventive animation and collage effects.
Monster, directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda (Japan, 2023, 125 min.)
February 29, 7:00 pm
Palm d’Or winner Hirokazu Kore-eda (Shoplifters; Broker) directs this unique mystery-thriller about the secret lives of children. When her young son Minato starts to behave strangely, his mother turns to the school for answers. As the story unfolds through the eyes of mother, teacher and child, a striking truth begins to emerge. Monster’s aching musical score was the final work by towering composer Riuichi Sakamoto before his death in 2023; the film is dedicated to Sakamoto’s memory.
Blue Giant, directed by Yuzuru Tachikawa (Japan, 2023, 120 min.)
March 3, 2:30 pm and March 29, 7:00 pm
High school student Dai Miyamoto’s life is turned upside down on the day he discovers jazz. Picking up a saxophone and leaving his sleepy hometown for the bustling nightclubs of Tokyo, Dai finds that the life of a professional musician isn’t for the faint of heart. Director Yuzuru Tachikawa (Mob Psycho 100) brings the award-winning manga to life, capturing raw live jazz performances with emotive color and lyrical imagery.
Seven Samurai, directed by Akira Kurosawa (Japan, 1954, 207 min.)
March 16, 7:00 pm
Samurai tells the story of a 16th-century village whose desperate inhabitants hire the eponymous warriors to protect them from invading bandits. This three-hour ride from Akira Kurosawa—featuring legendary actors Toshiro Mifune and Takashi Shimura—seamlessly weaves philosophy and entertainment, delicate human emotions and relentless action, into a rich, evocative and unforgettable tale of courage and hope.
Perfect Days, directed by Wim Wenders (Japan and Germany, 2023, 123 min.)
April 4, 7:00 pm
Kōji Yakusho has won best actor at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival for his outstanding performance as the middle-aged toilet cleaner, Hirayama in Perfect Days. In a combination of four short stories based in Tokyo, the film observes Hirayama’s simple and structured life, but as the film progresses, complexities emerge through a visit from Hirayama’s niece, conversations with an eccentric coworker and encounters with a mysterious man in the park.
| HOURS | ↑ top |
February 23, 7:00 pm
February 29, 7:00 pm
March 3, 2:30 pm and March 29, 7:00 pm
March 16, 7:00 pm
April 4, 7:00 pm
| WEBSITE | ↑ top |
www.mfa.org/series/uniqlo-festival-of-films-from-japan
| LOCATION | ↑ top |
465 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA map
Phone: (617) 267-9300
| RELATED LINKS | ↑ top |
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