JAPAN FILM FESTIVAL RECAP - PART 1

The Japanese Film Festival took place again this year, and our colleague Laurien had the opportunity to attend every day and enjoy a variety of films. In our three-part blog posts, she will summarize and review all the films she saw. Therefore, these reviews are entirely her personal opinion.

We thank the Japanese Film Festival for this great opportunity and are already looking forward to the next festival!

Once again, the films were split between the Studio Kino and the Metropolis Kino , after "Wings of the Phoenix" opened at the Metropolis on June 18, 2025. All of the films mentioned in the blog were shown at the Metropolis. Those interested in the entire selection can visit the JFFH website , where they are listed.

SUMIKKO - 7/10

Hikaru and Hana meet by chance one day in the park when they're both at the end of their rope. Hikaru is trying to write a movie script, while Hana is taking a break from her teaching job due to her health. Hana takes the lead in the conversation, which is a bit slow, as both have difficulty expressing themselves clearly and are very concerned about other people's feelings. Similar but yet completely different, the two see each other often, and even if they don't speak openly about what's going on in their lives, you can see that they influence and help each other.

Throughout the film, we learn what happens outside of their meetings. The camera work is very interesting, making the film appear as if a third person is present, using a handheld camera. Also striking is that we don't see the main character, Hikaru, directly for a long time in the film—only when the frustrations and feelings between the two explode and the film reaches its climax do we see him. It's almost as if he's been seen for the first time in his life, as Hana finds someone in him who listens to her for the first time.

" SUMIKKO " isn't an action-packed title; it progresses slowly and quietly, focusing on the protagonists' emotions. Nevertheless, it's an exciting journey that only really begins at the end of the film.

VAMPIRE HUNTER D: BLOODLUST - 6/10

D – half human, half vampire – is a famous bounty hunter who has made it his life's work to exterminate the creatures of the night. In " Bloodlust ," he is tasked with rescuing the young woman Charlotte from the clutches of the vampire Meier Link, but what he doesn't realize is that the two are lovers. Born from the love of a human and a vampire, D doesn't want another Dampeal like him to be born and suffer the same suffering.

He's not the only one hunting Meier, and so we also follow the Marcus brothers throughout the film. An interesting conflict arises: Are vampires the only monsters, or are we humans too? Throughout the film, you can't help but hope a little that Meier and Charlotte will manage to escape together.

A powerful soundtrack underscores the film's dark atmosphere, which is brimming with 2000s vibes. From the character designs to the dialogue, the English dub shines with a wonderful cast.

Even those who were not familiar with the franchise before will be able to follow the action perfectly and get their money's worth.

Before the film, it was interesting to overhear some snippets of conversation in which the neighbors talked about which anime they grew up with and what particularly stuck with me was the statement that anime is simply timeless.

RENTAL FAMILY - 10/10

Yoko is a divorced career woman who, in the course of her job, is introduced to the concept of "renting." What begins as someone to spruce up her apartment turns into "renting" a husband and daughter. The idea is dictated by her mother, who suffers from Alzheimer's and repeatedly asks about Yoko's ex-husband and granddaughter. When Yoko asks her ex-husband to attend her mother's birthday party, he refuses and rarely lets Yoko see her daughter. Since Yoko's mother can't remember their exact faces, it's easy to play the roles of son-in-law and granddaughter.

What was supposed to be a one-time thing quickly turns into a picnic in the park, joint visits to the hospital, and even fishing and outdoor barbecues. Throughout the film, we learn more not only about Yoko, but also about Go—her fake husband—and Shuri—her fake daughter. It's easy to understand what the three of them find in their "new family," as their own circumstances are characterized by rejection and neglect. There are hints and clues, but much remains unsaid—still, it's easy to fill in the gaps and imagine what moves and shapes the characters. And that they've all found shared and new happiness in each other.

A beautiful film that perfectly and literally encapsulates the "found family" trope, showing how strangers can become family, while your own family remains a stranger. It touched my heart, and I would have loved to know exactly what would happen next for the three of them. But where it ends, it also seems perfect to me, and I imagine the best for them.

THE FIRST LOVE - 7/10

A nearly four-minute film based on a very popular poem in Japan—" First Love ." It's a bit confusing the first time you watch it, as the subtitles contradict the spoken text. Although the words are taken directly from the poem, the film doesn't have a happy ending like the original.

It gives you the feeling of a real conversation that you don't fully understand at first and that only becomes clearer when you think about it a second and third time.

After the short film, we had the chance to ask the director, who was a guest on-site, a few questions. We learned, among other things, that the poem has to be memorized by schoolchildren, that short films don't have a large audience in Japan, and that Mayuna Imazato studied sociology and posts her own poems on social media. It was a really cool opportunity to exchange a few words with her – feel free to watch the film, as it's available on YouTube.

ELRATHIA - 4/10

A film about which one can't say for sure whether it's simply quirky or whether there's a deeper meaning behind it. One day, the introverted Kaguchi finds a trilobite fossil in a store, which gives him a strange feeling of familiarity. Since then, he has seen the sea before him, almost as if he had lived there himself. At first, he keeps this to himself and tries to navigate his life, but one quickly realizes that he's carrying a burden that makes it difficult for him.

He wants to burden his girlfriend Maya with this burden, but she wants to get back on her feet and return to her job. Naturally, she doesn't like the fact that he can't support her wholeheartedly, and it seems as if the relationship won't last. When he not only sees images of the sea, but also a voice speaks to him, and he encounters a strange figure, about whom he tells Maya, she wants nothing more to do with him.

While Kaguchi seems to be losing his mind, he continues to cling to Maya and wants to do one last thing before he allows himself to be taken over by the Trilobite's soul.

A strange film that picks up momentum, especially toward the end, but also loses momentum at the same time. Whether you like it or not, it's guaranteed to stay with you for a while.

Roadside - 5/10

With a running time of just under 20 minutes, " Roadside " is another short film in which four people are forced to pull over on the side of the road. We quickly learn that they accidentally hit a cat, which the father and daughter strangely heard "crying," while the driver didn't notice anything. For a moment, we think the film is drifting into the supernatural, but these remarks aren't given much attention. While we wait for the police and the mother of our main characters (who has run to the kiosk), all the characters are left to fend for themselves.

A veil of unease hangs over the film, leaving you on edge, unsure of what exactly will happen next. A phone call and searching for your cell phone may seem trivial, but over the course of the short film, they become major events. Will the woman manage to cancel her restaurant reservation? Can her boyfriend talk things out with her father? When will the mother return? The film manages to subtly isolate the male protagonist and create a disconnect between him and his girlfriend and her parents.

In the end, everything goes well, except that her mother's text messages were missed, so she took every drink option she could think of from the kiosk.

11 Rebels - 6/10

The brutal Boshin War is raging in Japan, and a group of criminals is drawn into it by being tasked with defending a fortress from the Imperial Army. They have no choice: either face immediate death for their crimes, or march to the fortress and fight their way to a pardon. The ten bandits couldn't be more different—a monk, a gambler, an arsonist—and this mission brings them and a handful of samurai together. They clash on the very first night, and our main character, Washio, attempts to escape. However, this leads him to discover the Emperor's troop, which has made its way to the fortress in the middle of the night. The first of many brutal battles ensues, in which some of our "heroes" show more commitment than others.

Naturally, this creates further friction, and there's a fear that the rebels will die at their own hands rather than those of the army. They win the first battle, but the mission soon reveals itself to be part of a devious plan by the Shibata clan's supreme advisor. Who will they ultimately side with? The Shogun or the Emperor? Or are they simply fighting for themselves?

The film captivates with its numerous action scenes and a powerful soundtrack and sound design. Definitely a film made for the big screen. The original script was written by Kazuo Kasahara in 1964, but the then head of Toei Kyoto Studio, Shigeru Okada, was dissatisfied with the ending. A full 60 years later, the project was revived and revived by Kazuya Shiraishi, who ultimately brought the script to the screen.

It continues in the second part.