Among the new Japanese films screened at the Shanghai International Film Festival every year, many popular films are almost sold out and tickets are hard to come by. "Neon Films" is a unit that the Shanghai International Film Festival has formed since 2019 for other new Japanese films that are not included in the "Japanese Film Week". The content is richer. In addition to various popular blockbusters, it also focuses on unpopular masterpieces, allowing the audience to appreciate the full picture of Japanese films more comprehensively.

Today we will introduce to you the first batch of films in this unit, including new films by famous directors such as Yuya Ishii and Atsuhiro Yamashita, as well as award-winning and recommended works from our partner Tokyo International Film Festival, and world premieres won for Shanghai movie fans. The period drama masterpiece starring the eighth generation Kabuki nobleman Somegoro Ichikawa, who is known as the most beautiful man in Japan, and his father, the tenth generation Kabuki nobleman Koshiro Matsumoto, will be its first screening outside of Japan, and will surely be the focus of fans' attention.

90 years old. What is there to celebrate? (2024)

90 Years Old - So What?

Maeda Tetsu

Highlights:

90-year-old Caodi Guangzi plays a sharp-tongued writer

After retiring from the literary world, Sato Aiko, who has won many literary awards, has a dull and boring life, like a stagnant pool of water. However, the unexpected arrival of an editor has stirred up waves in her 90-year-old life again... The film is based on the essays of Sato Aiko, a centenarian writer who is still active today, and reproduces the laughter, anger and scolding in her writing, outlining a picture of vitality and courage. The heroine in this film, Kusabue Mitsuko, was born in 1933 and has been active in the film industry since the 1950s. She has worked with great directors such as Ichikawa Kon and Naruse Mikio. This time, she challenges the role of the same age at the real age of 90, interpreting the infinite possibilities of women's careers in a dual sense. The film premiered at the Shanghai International Film Festival.

Onihei Crime Account Blood Battle (2024)

Samurai Detective Onihei: Blood For Blood

Yamashita Tomohiko

Highlights:

A masterpiece to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of literary giant Shotaro Ikeba

This film, like "The Killer: Fujieda Meian" which was screened at the Shanghai International Film Festival last year, is a work of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Japanese period novelist Shotaro Ikeba. As one of Ikeba's three masterpieces, "Onihei Hankacho" is the protagonist of Hasegawa Heizo, the head of the police nicknamed "Onihei", and tells his various heroic deeds. This film has been renovated, not only has the production been fully upgraded, but the actors have also invited the tenth generation Kabuki actor Matsumoto Koshiro and his son Ichikawa Somegoro, the eighth generation, to play Onihei in different periods, and a number of stars such as Emoto Akira, Nakai Takaichi, and Hino Masahiro have joined, which can be called a top lineup. This film is the international premiere at the Shanghai International Film Festival.

Month (2023)

The Moon

Ishii Yuya

Highlights:

Yuya Ishii's thought-provoking social masterpiece

Yoko, a former female writer, has long suffered from a lack of creative inspiration. To make a living, she came to work in a facility for severely disabled people deep in the forest. Her experience here will have a significant impact on her life... This social masterpiece, which encountered many obstacles during the production process, was directed by Yuya Ishii, who was a judge for the Asian Newcomer Award at the Shanghai International Film Festival, and starred Rie Miyazawa, a double winner of the Junpo and the Japanese Oscars. Ishii completely abandoned his past humor and lightness, and bravely faced the most acute social problems with the most extreme emotions and the most radical attitude, revealing the scars that were deliberately ignored. His resolute courage is impressive and has won him unanimous praise at home and abroad.

Let's sing karaoke! (2023)

Let's Go Karaoke!

Yamashita Atsuhiro

Highlights:

Will gang members also bow their heads and learn from middle school students?

The head of the junior high school chorus club, Oka Satoshi, meets a gangster named Narita Kyouji, who strangely asks Satoshi to be his singing teacher. Just because of the boss's personal hobby, the gang's regular karaoke competition puts a lot of pressure on Kyouji. Two people who would never have any intersection in normal life develop a friendship because of singing. The famous Japanese Mesozoic director Yamashita Atsuhiro shows a unique perspective on the underworld, and portrays the friendship between the gangsters and middle school students in the comics in a pleasing and funny way. The various gangsters' tone-deaf singing segments make people laugh to tears. It can be said to be an indispensable warm and realistic Japanese movie in 2024.

Desire (2023)

(Ab)normal Desire

Yoshiyuki Kishi

Highlights:

Speak up for the "abnormal" people

This film is adapted from the best-selling novel of the same name by writer Ryo Asai. It stars screen goddess Yui Aragaki and former SMAP member Goro Inagaki. It uses a multi-line narrative to depict the unfair treatment of a group of people with so-called "special fetishes" in society. They have different desires from "normal people". Even if they curl up in the corner of society, they still bear the original sin and are frightened. Director Yoshiyuki Kishi tells the story with a skilled rhythm, mercilessly criticizing the hypocrisy of society and questioning the definition of "normality". It resonates with the audience and won the Best Director Award and Audience Award at the Tokyo International Film Festival. As an "International Through Train" project of the Shanghai International Film Festival and the Tokyo International Film Festival, this film is recommended by the Tokyo International Film Festival.

City (2023)

Ichiko

Toda Akishiro

Highlights:

The shocking truth behind the mysterious disappearance of my girlfriend

Hasegawa Yoshinori mustered up the courage to propose to his girlfriend Kawabe Ichiko, with whom he had lived for three years, but Ichiko left without saying goodbye the next day and disappeared. Hasegawa relentlessly searched for Ichiko and finally unearthed the shocking truth... Toda Akishiro, the head of the "Cheese Theater" troupe, which has made progress in both drama and film, brought his award-winning stage play masterpiece "For Kawabe Ichiko" to the screen and was selected for multiple film festivals such as Busan and Tokyo. The film is led by the young actress Sugisaki Hana. She was a child star and has been tempered for many years. Her acting skills have become more mature. She interprets a tragic woman who is constantly teased by fate but still lives tenaciously. She was nominated for the Japan Academy Award for Best Actress. This is not only a tragic history of an individual woman, but also a sharp response to many stubborn problems in Japanese society. As an "International Through Train" project of the Shanghai International Film Festival and the Tokyo International Film Festival, this film is recommended by the Tokyo International Film Festival.

Tickets for this year's film festival will go on sale on the Tao Piaopiao platform at 12 noon on June 7.

Note: If the film list changes, please refer to the actual schedule.