Friday, August 1, 2008
A Promise （人間の約束）
Directed by YOSHIDA Kiju (吉田喜重)
1986
124 mins

Based on a novel by Shuichi SAE, the story concerns a three-generation family in Tokyo suburb. Tatsu, Yoshio MORIMOTO's mother , is found dead in their home. Ryosaku, Yoshio's father gave himself up and confessed that he had killed his wife. However, the confession was extremely confused. Yet one night, after all were asleep, Yoshio saw his mother put her face in basin of water by her bed and so gently pressed her head down until she stopped breathing.

Friday, August 8, 2008
Faraway Sunset （遠き落日）
Directed by KOYAMA Seiijiro （神山征二郎）
1992
119 mins

This is a biographical film focusing on the mother of the Japanese microbiologist, Hideyo Noguchi who discovered the spirochete culture of syphilis and gained world-wide fame.

Friday, August 15, 2008
Moving（お引越し）
Directed by SOMAI Shinji （相米慎二）
1993
124 mins

Renko's parents decide to separate, and she starts to feel uneasy when her mother draws up a strict contract for their lives. She tries in vain to bring her parents back together. Wandering around town she runs into a strange old man who talks to her about the need to forget the past. How can she make up her mind?

Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Deciduous Tree（落葉樹）
Directed by SHINDO Kaneto （新藤兼人）
1986
105 mins

An elderly script writer reflects back to the memories of his home and his family. This is an autobiographical film in memory of his beloved mother.

Friday, August 22, 2008
Like Ashura（阿修羅のごとく）
Directed by MORITA Yoshimitsu （森田芳光）
2003
136 mins

Four sisters in the Takezawa family gather for the first time in a long while upon learning their father has a mistress and a love child. The quartet decide against letting their mother to know about it.

Friday, August 29, 2008
Acacia Walk（アカシアの道）
Directed by MATSUOKA Jyoji （松岡錠司）
2001
90 mins

Editor Miwako Kijima hears from her aunt about her mother's illness. The mother, Kanako worked as a teacher, and raise Miwako as a single parent. Life was hard for Kanako, and she was cruel to Miwako. Her mother became very ill, which surprise Miwako as she has not contacted her mother since starting university. Miwako is told that her mother suffers from Alzheimer's disease, and she reluctantly accepts to go back and live with her. The days are full of stress and yelling at her mother. She feels bad because she's doing the same as what her mother did to her. She starts to see her ex-boyfriend Sawaki to relieve the stress. However she feels as if no one understands her.