Sisyphean is the ennui rampantly in situ within the modern life architecture. A void of degradation, of scintillating deception, its barbaric psychosis does not so much ensnare its occupants as it does digest their capacity to exist outside its sphere of influence. Out of its relentlessly turning cogs emerge identical faces, diluted and filtered to resemble mirror images of a central unifying idea – a world long prophesied and dreaded within the arts. Out of this humdrum existence, it only takes a spark to ignite the incendiary desires of a nihilistic teen longing for purpose – just a few millimetres of alcohol waiting for a cigarette to meet its inevitable, timely demise can, in the eyes of Ken Ninomiya’s mesmerizing “The Midnight Maiden War”, tilt the balance off its axis and verge towards chaos.
The Midnight Maiden War screened at Camera Japan
A listless student by day and a laborer at a flower warehouse by night,...
The Midnight Maiden War screened at Camera Japan
A listless student by day and a laborer at a flower warehouse by night,...
- 10/7/2022
- by James Cansdale-Cook
- AsianMoviePulse
translation by Koichi Mori
Ken Ninomiya was born in 1991 in Osaka. He started his career in film in 2014, with two shorts and he did his feature debut in 2015 with Slum-Polis. Starting with his third film, “The Limit of Sleeping Beauty”, he garnered international attention, with the movie screening in Hong Kong, BiFan (Korea) and Japan FIlmfest Hamburg. “Chiwawa” in 2019 was an even bigger success internationally, while it took number one in Best Japanese Film of 2019 in our list.
On the occassion of “Tonkatsu DJ Agetaro”, his latest film, screening at New York Asian Film Festival, we speak with him about adapting the particular manga, the 80’s aesthetics of the movie, music and music video elements in his filmography, the set design of the movie, his latest film, and other topics
Why did you decide to adapt the particular manga by Ipyao and Yujiro Koyama?
The unique blend of two seemingly contradictory cultures,...
Ken Ninomiya was born in 1991 in Osaka. He started his career in film in 2014, with two shorts and he did his feature debut in 2015 with Slum-Polis. Starting with his third film, “The Limit of Sleeping Beauty”, he garnered international attention, with the movie screening in Hong Kong, BiFan (Korea) and Japan FIlmfest Hamburg. “Chiwawa” in 2019 was an even bigger success internationally, while it took number one in Best Japanese Film of 2019 in our list.
On the occassion of “Tonkatsu DJ Agetaro”, his latest film, screening at New York Asian Film Festival, we speak with him about adapting the particular manga, the 80’s aesthetics of the movie, music and music video elements in his filmography, the set design of the movie, his latest film, and other topics
Why did you decide to adapt the particular manga by Ipyao and Yujiro Koyama?
The unique blend of two seemingly contradictory cultures,...
- 8/13/2021
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
The New York Asian Film Foundation and Film at Lincoln Center will unspool the 2021 edition Aug. 6-22 at Flc, kicking off with the premiere of “Escape From Mogadishu,” directed by Ryoo Seung-wa.
In all, 60 films will screen to audiences in person and virtually, with premieres of first and second features from directors for the feature film competition: “Anima”, “City of Lost Things”, “Hand Rolled Cigarette”, “Joint”, “Ten Months” and “Tiong Bahru Social Club”.
Hong Kong new wave director Ann Hui will receive the Variety Star Asia Lifetime Achievement Award, and the festival will screen her film “The Story of Woo Viet” and Man Lim Chung’s pic on Hui, “Keep Rolling.”
The festival will introduce the section Asian American Focus, which will feature films including Aimee Long’s “A Shot Through the Wall.” The team behind the film will be present at the festival.
“Sensei, Would You Sit Beside Me?...
In all, 60 films will screen to audiences in person and virtually, with premieres of first and second features from directors for the feature film competition: “Anima”, “City of Lost Things”, “Hand Rolled Cigarette”, “Joint”, “Ten Months” and “Tiong Bahru Social Club”.
Hong Kong new wave director Ann Hui will receive the Variety Star Asia Lifetime Achievement Award, and the festival will screen her film “The Story of Woo Viet” and Man Lim Chung’s pic on Hui, “Keep Rolling.”
The festival will introduce the section Asian American Focus, which will feature films including Aimee Long’s “A Shot Through the Wall.” The team behind the film will be present at the festival.
“Sensei, Would You Sit Beside Me?...
- 7/16/2021
- by Shalini Dore
- Variety Film + TV
After two movies that stood out for their music video aesthetics and visual flair (“Limit of Sleeping Beauty” and “Chiwawa”) with the second one being much better, Ken Ninomiya changed his style somewhat, by shooting a title that is a tribute to the 80s (following the international trend essentially) but also so much more.
“Tonkatsu DJ Age-Taro” is screening at Neuchatel International Fantastic Film Festival
The script is adapted from a manga series by Ipyao and Yujiro Koyama, which also became an anime, and focuses on Agetaro Katsumata, whose family runs a tonkatsu (pork cutlet) restaurant in Shibuya, Tokyo. Agetaro will inherit the restaurant one day and he currently performs menial jobs at the restaurant, like chopping up the cabbage and delivering food orders. He isn’t satisfied with his work, while his father still believes he is not dedicated enough to be allowed to deep fry meat. He and...
“Tonkatsu DJ Age-Taro” is screening at Neuchatel International Fantastic Film Festival
The script is adapted from a manga series by Ipyao and Yujiro Koyama, which also became an anime, and focuses on Agetaro Katsumata, whose family runs a tonkatsu (pork cutlet) restaurant in Shibuya, Tokyo. Agetaro will inherit the restaurant one day and he currently performs menial jobs at the restaurant, like chopping up the cabbage and delivering food orders. He isn’t satisfied with his work, while his father still believes he is not dedicated enough to be allowed to deep fry meat. He and...
- 7/4/2021
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Ben Wheatley’s ‘In The Earth’ is playing in the main competition of the Swiss festival.
UK director Ben Wheatley’s in The Earth is among the competition contenders in this year’s 20th Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival which will take place as a hybrid edition from July 2-10 in Switzerland.
It is taking place under the interim directorship of Loïc Valceschini before a new head, Pierre-Yves Walder, takes up the reins in July.
The event includes 55 films, eight short films, eight immersive installations and two TV productions. Among the special guests will be legendary VFX artist Volker Engel,...
UK director Ben Wheatley’s in The Earth is among the competition contenders in this year’s 20th Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival which will take place as a hybrid edition from July 2-10 in Switzerland.
It is taking place under the interim directorship of Loïc Valceschini before a new head, Pierre-Yves Walder, takes up the reins in July.
The event includes 55 films, eight short films, eight immersive installations and two TV productions. Among the special guests will be legendary VFX artist Volker Engel,...
- 6/17/2021
- ScreenDaily
Although “Chiwawa” was the film that truly cemented the artfulness of his slightly disorienting, filled with (neon) colors and music, sexually charged style, it is interesting to examine the path Ken Ninomiya followed to reach that level, with his previous movie providing a great opportunity.
The story revolves around Aki Oria, a young girl who came to Tokyo ten years ago to become an actress, but eventually ended up staying in a circus of sorts, having a relationship with Kaito, the young man who introduced her, and acting as the magician’s assistant, with her role being pretending to be hypnotized. Eventually, she manages to land a part after a successful audition, even becoming a star, before a scandal takes a significant toll to her reputation. Is that the reality though? And who is this clown-like figure she calls Butch that seems to always be with her?...
The story revolves around Aki Oria, a young girl who came to Tokyo ten years ago to become an actress, but eventually ended up staying in a circus of sorts, having a relationship with Kaito, the young man who introduced her, and acting as the magician’s assistant, with her role being pretending to be hypnotized. Eventually, she manages to land a part after a successful audition, even becoming a star, before a scandal takes a significant toll to her reputation. Is that the reality though? And who is this clown-like figure she calls Butch that seems to always be with her?...
- 2/18/2021
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
The International Film Festival & Awards Macao has unveiled its program and jury ahead of its 5th edition taking place digitally December 3 – 8.
Japanese filmmaker Hirokazu Koreeda will receive the festival’s ‘Spirit of Cinema’ award at a virtual awards ceremony taking place online December 8. The event will also screen films via a dedicated video streaming platform and host five in conversation events virtually.
Competing in the International Competition are: Viggo Mortenson’s directorial debut Falling; Love Poem which won the top prize at the First International Film Festival this year; Jeonju prize-winner Black Light; Rotterdam Tiger winner The Cloud In Her Room and Cannes 2020 Label titles Limbo, Spring Blossom and Sweat.
The competition jury, which awards a $60,000 prize to the best feature, will be comprised of: filmmaker Ning Hao (president), filmmaker Mattie Do, actress Nina Hoss, director Eric Khoo, and Hong Kong Film Festival head Albert Lee.
The five in conversations...
Japanese filmmaker Hirokazu Koreeda will receive the festival’s ‘Spirit of Cinema’ award at a virtual awards ceremony taking place online December 8. The event will also screen films via a dedicated video streaming platform and host five in conversation events virtually.
Competing in the International Competition are: Viggo Mortenson’s directorial debut Falling; Love Poem which won the top prize at the First International Film Festival this year; Jeonju prize-winner Black Light; Rotterdam Tiger winner The Cloud In Her Room and Cannes 2020 Label titles Limbo, Spring Blossom and Sweat.
The competition jury, which awards a $60,000 prize to the best feature, will be comprised of: filmmaker Ning Hao (president), filmmaker Mattie Do, actress Nina Hoss, director Eric Khoo, and Hong Kong Film Festival head Albert Lee.
The five in conversations...
- 11/10/2020
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Ken Ninomiya was born in 1991 in Osaka. He started his career in film in 2014, with two shorts and he did his feature debut in 2015 with Slum-Polis. Starting with his third film, “The Limit of Sleeping Beauty”, he garnered international attention, with the movie screening in Hong Kong, BiFan (Korea) and Japan FIlmfest Hamburg.
On the occasion of his latest film, “Chiwawa” winning the Best Japanese Film of 2019 in our list, we speak with him about adapting Kyoko Okazaki’s manga, show business and youth in Japan, working with Tadanobu Asano, Chiaki Kuriyama and Mugi Kadowaki, and other topics
Translation by Nikodem Karolak
Why did you decide to adapt Kyoko Okazaki’s manga? Did you find more difficult adapting the work of someone else than writing your own script?
“Chiwawa” is a short comic book that consists merely of thirty four pages. However, at the time I read it, it conveyed...
On the occasion of his latest film, “Chiwawa” winning the Best Japanese Film of 2019 in our list, we speak with him about adapting Kyoko Okazaki’s manga, show business and youth in Japan, working with Tadanobu Asano, Chiaki Kuriyama and Mugi Kadowaki, and other topics
Translation by Nikodem Karolak
Why did you decide to adapt Kyoko Okazaki’s manga? Did you find more difficult adapting the work of someone else than writing your own script?
“Chiwawa” is a short comic book that consists merely of thirty four pages. However, at the time I read it, it conveyed...
- 1/17/2020
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Creating an amalgamate movie from other movies is occasionally a very hard job, but the result can be great, as Tarantino has proven time and time again, particularly with “Kill Bill”. Ken Ninomiya took the concept a step even further, by using Kyoko Okazaki’s manga as its base in order to shoot a film that loans elements from “Helter Skelter” and “River’s Edge (also based on Okazaki’s works), “The World of Kanako”, but most surprisingly, “Spring Breakers” and even a bit of “Velvet Goldmine”. Let us see how he fared.
“Chiwawa” is screening at Fantasia International Film Festival
The story unfolds in a number of different timelines. Immediately as the film begins, we hear one of the protagonists, Miki, talking about the titular character, Chiwawa, just before we learn that her body was found mutilated. In the next scene, the timeline switches to the past, when Miki...
“Chiwawa” is screening at Fantasia International Film Festival
The story unfolds in a number of different timelines. Immediately as the film begins, we hear one of the protagonists, Miki, talking about the titular character, Chiwawa, just before we learn that her body was found mutilated. In the next scene, the timeline switches to the past, when Miki...
- 7/13/2019
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
With a final wave of programming, the 2019 edition of the Fantasia International Film Festival has now released its full lineup, featuring over 130 incredible features from across the globe.
Fantasia International Film Festival
Montreal, Quebec – July 11 to August 1
In addition, the festival is also very proud to announce a record number of repertory titles, its esteemed 2019 jury, a horror film location bus tour through Montreal, and exciting, one-of-a-kind live events with producer Edward R. Pressman, “First Blood” director Ted Kotcheff, and iconic horror host Joe Bob Briggs.
Japanese horror icon ”Sadako” will open fantasia 2019!
Sadako
Twenty years ago, Fantasia celebrated the North American Premiere of Hideo Nakata’s “Ringu” and its sequel, which led to Dreamworks acquiring the franchise and is largely seen as having been the birth of J-Horror in the West. This Summer, the festival is proud to open its 23rd edition with the series’ latest sequel, “Sadako” (North...
Fantasia International Film Festival
Montreal, Quebec – July 11 to August 1
In addition, the festival is also very proud to announce a record number of repertory titles, its esteemed 2019 jury, a horror film location bus tour through Montreal, and exciting, one-of-a-kind live events with producer Edward R. Pressman, “First Blood” director Ted Kotcheff, and iconic horror host Joe Bob Briggs.
Japanese horror icon ”Sadako” will open fantasia 2019!
Sadako
Twenty years ago, Fantasia celebrated the North American Premiere of Hideo Nakata’s “Ringu” and its sequel, which led to Dreamworks acquiring the franchise and is largely seen as having been the birth of J-Horror in the West. This Summer, the festival is proud to open its 23rd edition with the series’ latest sequel, “Sadako” (North...
- 6/28/2019
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
CinemAsia is back. The 12th edition will open doors on the 5th and will run until the 10th of March 2019.
The rich Programme includes 35 feature films from 14 countries and regions, of which there are 3 international and 12 European premieres.
Let’s have a look at all the titles and the sections:
Opening Film
Aruna & Her Palate by Edwin
Closing Film
The Lady Improper by Jessey Tsang Tsui-shan
Competition
The Competition champions new talent, featuring 9 films by directors with a singular voice, tackling multicultural themes.
A Boy and Sungreen by Ahn Jun-YoungAve Maryam by Ertanto Robby Soediskam
Born Bone Born by Toshiyuki Teruya (Japan. 2018)
Guang by Quek Shio-chuan
Long Time No Sea by Heather Tsui
Long Time No Sea
Official Selection
The Official Selection offers a wide spectrum of genres that challenge, inform and entertain. This year the theme “Little People. Big World” spotlights minority or marginalised children all over Asia, but...
The rich Programme includes 35 feature films from 14 countries and regions, of which there are 3 international and 12 European premieres.
Let’s have a look at all the titles and the sections:
Opening Film
Aruna & Her Palate by Edwin
Closing Film
The Lady Improper by Jessey Tsang Tsui-shan
Competition
The Competition champions new talent, featuring 9 films by directors with a singular voice, tackling multicultural themes.
A Boy and Sungreen by Ahn Jun-YoungAve Maryam by Ertanto Robby Soediskam
Born Bone Born by Toshiyuki Teruya (Japan. 2018)
Guang by Quek Shio-chuan
Long Time No Sea by Heather Tsui
Long Time No Sea
Official Selection
The Official Selection offers a wide spectrum of genres that challenge, inform and entertain. This year the theme “Little People. Big World” spotlights minority or marginalised children all over Asia, but...
- 3/3/2019
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
The Tiffcom market, a sales event adjacent to the Tokyo International Film Festival, always includes the latest film launches from Japan. This year the selection is especially varied and rich. Arranged by sales company, highlights include:
Kadokawa
“Chiwawa”
Scripted and directed by Ken Ninomiya, this mystery about a 20-year-old Instagram star who ends up dead in Tokyo Bay, is based on a popular comic. It features a cast that includes the internationally known Chiaki Kuriyama (“Kill Bill”) and Tadanobu Asano (“The Third Murder”).
“Hard-Core”
Festival favorite, Nobuhiro Yamashita has adapted a cult hit comic about a pair of misfits who are inseparable friends. They encounter a retro-looking robot with astonishing powers, and together embark on a bizarre hunt for long-buried treasure.
“The Antique: Secret of the Old Books”
Yukiko Mishima, director of the acclaimed 2017 drama “Dear Etranger,” has returned with a literary mystery, based on En Mikami’s best-selling novel.
Kadokawa
“Chiwawa”
Scripted and directed by Ken Ninomiya, this mystery about a 20-year-old Instagram star who ends up dead in Tokyo Bay, is based on a popular comic. It features a cast that includes the internationally known Chiaki Kuriyama (“Kill Bill”) and Tadanobu Asano (“The Third Murder”).
“Hard-Core”
Festival favorite, Nobuhiro Yamashita has adapted a cult hit comic about a pair of misfits who are inseparable friends. They encounter a retro-looking robot with astonishing powers, and together embark on a bizarre hunt for long-buried treasure.
“The Antique: Secret of the Old Books”
Yukiko Mishima, director of the acclaimed 2017 drama “Dear Etranger,” has returned with a literary mystery, based on En Mikami’s best-selling novel.
- 10/23/2018
- by Mark Schilling
- Variety Film + TV
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