Collegiate Times

Maheen Khurshid / Collegiate Times

If you thought “Black Swan” was thrilling, wait until you see “Tokyo Sonata.”

The 2011 Japanese Film Festival is here, featuring three films — including the aforementioned “Tokyo Sonata” — that will be shown every other Saturday starting Jan. 29 at The Lyric in downtown Blacksburg. John and Mihoko Lanier contributed the funds that allowed the festival to come together.

In an effort to promote Japanese culture at Virginia Tech, the foreign languages department is showing three films for free at the theatre. Viewers won’t have to worry about a language barrier. 

The films have English subtitles.

“Coming out to the Japanese Festival can people get in touch with a culture that is completely different from the American culture,” said Jinelle Baldorado, an officer in Virginia Tech’s Japanese Cultural Association. “Not only are the films funny and entertaining, but they can show people halfway across the world that there are lots of notable similarities and differences between the two cultures.”

“Departure,” the first of the three films, is about a devoted cellist named Daigo Kobayashi who finds himself suddenly without a job. Daigo decides to answer an ad in the paper entitled “Departures,” which he mistakes to be an advertisement for a travel agency, only to discover that the job is actually for a “Nokanshi,” or a funeral professional who prepares deceased bodies for burial and entry in the next life.

Daigo learns to respect the Nokanshi as an art, acting as a gatekeeper between life and death. The film follows Daigo in his profound yet comical journey in contemplating the meaning of life and living. “Departure” will be showing at 3 p.m. Saturday.

Named after a hit Japanese punk song, “Linda, Linda, Linda” tells the story of a high school girl band that is in pressing need of a vocalist for a performance at their school’s cultural festival. In desperation, the other members quite literally ask the first girl they see — a Korean foreign exchange student.

Given the language barrier, the girls meet difficulties and misunderstandings. But despite the cultural tribulations, the girls are able to understand each other through sharing the ins and outs of high school life. “Linda, Linda, Linda” will be showing at 3 p.m. on Feb. 12.

“Tokyo Sonata” was directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa, who could be considered the Japanese equivalent of Darren Aronofsky. Set in contemporary Tokyo, the film tells the tale of a seemingly ordinary Japanese family of four. However, after the father loses his job, the family starts to slowly, but surely, disintegrate. The film probes the dark side of human nature and the social problems that confront contemporary Japan.

Kurosawa’s portrayal of the degradation of Japan’s “family” archetype recieved many praises. “Tokyo Sonata” will be showing at 3 p.m. on Feb. 26.

JCA president Ashlina Chin is enthusiastic about the festival.

“It’s a really great opportunity for people interested in Japanese culture to watch some award-winning movies,” Chin said.

Trailers, summaries and more information can be found at TheLyric.com.

A version of this article appeared in the Jan 25 issue of the Collegiate Times.