The Weatherhead East Asian Institute (WEAI),
in conjunction with the Donald Keene Center presents
a Japanese film series

Out of the Ashes: Early Postwar Japanese Movies

Film still from PU-SAN 1953 with permission from Toho Co., Ltd. All rights reserved.

As Japan emerged from the catastrophic wreckage of WWII, many film directors turned to the bleak realities of the postwar to inspire their movies, and audiences flocked to newly-built theaters, hungry for entertainment that spoke to their privations. Ironically, through these stories of poverty, orphaned children, political turmoil and corruption, filmmakers ushered in Japan's golden age of film. Working with a stylish palette of black humor, irony and compassion, Japanese postwar movies-some of the best of which are featured in this series-unflinchingly stared down a ruined nation and championed the unlikely heroes struggling to resurrect it.

 

 

Children of the Beehive (SHIMIZU Hiroshi, 1948)

Tuesday, February 26
6:00 - 8:00PM
Areldge Cinema, Lerner Hall
Alfred Lerner Hall is located at 2920 Broadway (at W. 115th St). Please go to http://www.columbia.edu/about_columbia/map/lerner.html for a concept map.

NO RSVP is necessary for Columbia ID holders. For guests to Columbia, please RSVP to by February 24 so that we may add your name to the front desk check-in list.

 

Battles Without Honor and Humanity (FUKASAKU Kinji, 1973)

Tuesday, March 11, 2008, 6-8 PM
Davis Auditorium, Schapiro Center, 530 W. 120th St. between Broadway and Columbus.

No RSVP necessary.

 

Doctor's Day Off (SHIBUYA Minoru, 1952)

Monday, March 31, 2008, 6-8 PM
Arledge Cinema, Lerner Hall, 2920 Broadway (at W. 115th St).

NO RSVP is necessary for Columbia ID holders. For guests to Columbia, please RSVP to

 

Pu San (ICHIKAWA Kon, 1953)

Tuesday, April 8, 2008, 6-8 PM
Arledge Cinema, Lerner Hall, 2920 Broadway (at W. 115th St).

NO RSVP is necessary for Columbia ID holders. For guests to Columbia, please RSVP to

 

Black River (KOBAYASHI Masaki, 1957)

Tuesday, April 15, 2008, 6-9 PM (to be followed by panel discussion)
Arledge Cinema, Lerner Hall, 2920 Broadway (at W. 115th St).

NO RSVP is necessary for Columbia ID holders. For guests to Columbia, please RSVP to .

 

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Out of the Ashes has been curated by filmmaker Linda Hoaglund and is sponsored by the Weatherhead East Asian Institute and the Donald Keene Center of Japanese Culture. For more information, visit http://www.columbia.edu/cu/weai/events/OutofAshes.html

This film series is also presented in conjunction with the following Columbia University East Asian History courses: G8871--Colloquium on the History of Modern Japan, W3869--Modern Japan, 1800 to the Present

For information on WEAI's other upcoming events, please visit their website http://www.columbia.edu/cu/weai/index.html