June 11: Black Actors in Foreign Cinema: Kiku and Isamu, Japan, 1958

1326 West Hollywood Avenue,Chicago IL 60660

11 June, 2022

Description

Black Actors in Foreign CinemaChicago Filmmakers1326 W Hollywood Ave, Chicago, IL, United States, IllinoisJune 11, 7pmKiku and Isamu, Japan, 1959Runtime: 117 minutesDirector: Tadashi ImaiWriter: Yôko MizukiThis is not a free screening: Buy Tickets at Chicago Filmmakers Stars Emiko Takahashi,Tanie Kitabayashi, George Okunoyama Live Zoom Interview with 78 year old Actress Emiko Takahashi from Tokyo, after the film. Immediately after the Second World War, sister Kiku and brother Isamu, whose mother was a prostitute and the father was a black GI, live with their grandmother in the country. Because their colour, hair is different from Japanese, they'd have a hard time, being bullied or treated like unusual creatures. This exceptional post World War II Japanese film explores the lives of these two children, a sister & brother, fathered by a Black American soldier, and orphaned, they live with their grandmother in a small village. This multi-layered tale touches on race, culture and identity. With outstanding performances, the characterizations portray tremendous human dimension. There is the wise, compassionate and pragmatic grandmother played by Tanie Kitabayashi, in her only ever film appearance. Emiko Takahashi as Kiku, an inspired and bold casting choice from Imai, gives a sincere, moving and spirited performance. This is a progressive story and is not impeded by dwelling on the negatives or self pity. Directed by Tadashi Imai, a radical socialist. known for his social realist films, is mostly interested in depicting the tragedies of human life. Often described as 'nakanai realism', or 'a realism without tears', Imai's films show the hard struggles of the poor confronting social challenges. At the heart of this brilliant film is the purely innocent Kiku who asks her grandmother a simple but most profound question: " Why are some people black and some people white?” Winner of the 10th Blue Ribbon Awards 1959. Best Film, Best Actress - Tanie Kitabayashi, Best Screenplay - Youko Mizuki