Eiga Nights – Spotlight on Sion Sono and Fumi Nikaido

Free Film Screening Program

February 13 & 14, 2019

While critically acclaimed auteur Sion Sono has gained a cult following for his films’ eccentricity and gore, his works’ underlying complexities often draw baffled audiences in for another screening. Working alongside Sono are his, often young, leading cast who deliver powerful performances. This month’s Eiga Nights selection will cast the spotlight on two collaborations between Sono and award-winning actress Fumi Nikaido, who Japanese Film Festival (JFF) fans will recognise from past JFF picks such as River’s Edge (2018) and Wolf Girl and Black Prince (2016).

Catch free screenings of Himizu (2011) and Why Don’t You Play in Hell (2013), which demonstrate the range of Sono’s directing and Nikaido’s acting.

Himizu (ヒミズ)

Dir Sion Sono/ 2011 / 129 mins / Cast: Denden, Fumi Nikaido, Shota Sometani / Japanese with English subtitles / Strictly 18+

February 13 (Wednesday), 6:30pm – 8:45pm

Set in a dystopian future after the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami destroyed Japan, school mates Yuichi (Shota Sometani) and Keiko (Fumi Nikaido) are united through their dysfunctional existence. Yuichi just wants to grow up to become a normal adult, while Keiko is madly in love with him. Their fates take an unexpected turn when Yuichi’s father re-enters his life after racking up debt and disappearing, pushing him to commit brutal acts against society’s wrongdoers.

Nikaido and Somentai’s performances in Himizu won them the Venice Film Festival’s Marcello Mastroianni Award for emerging best actors.

Why Don’t You Play in Hell? (地獄でなぜ悪い)

Dir Sion Sono / 2013/ 126 mins / Cast: Jun Kunimura, Shinichi Tsutsumi, Fumi Nikaido, Hiroaki Hasegawa, Gen Hoshino, Tomochika / Japanese with English subtitles /R 18+, high impact violence

February 14 (Thursday), 6:30pm – 8:41pm

10 years ago yakuza mid-boss Ikegami led an assault against rival leader, Muto. Now on the eve of his revenge, he wishes to complete his dream of delivering a feature film, starring his daughter (Fumi Nikaido) before his wife is released from prison. With the help of a wannabe film crew, can they pull off filming a real life yakuza battle on 35mm?

Why Don’t You Play in Hell? is a visceral and chaotic bloodbath that won the audience award Toronto International Film Festival’s Midnight Madness section but has divided film critics.

Presented by

EVENT DETAILS

All films start at 6:30pm (doors open at 6pm)

February 13, Wednesday
Himizu (Strictly 18+)
6:30pm – 8:45pm

February 14, Thursday
Why Don’t You Play in Hell? (R18+)
6:30pm – 8:41pm

Screening will be held in a seminar room type event space, not a movie theatre. Bean bags and chairs are available as seating.

Please feel free to bring bottled non-alcoholic drinks and snacks (no hot food please).

ADMISSION
Free, limited capacity. Walk-in only, bookings not necessary.

VENUE
The Japan Foundation, Sydney
Level 4, Central Park
28 Broadway, Chippendale NSW 2008

ENQUIRIES

Do you have queries about the film? Planning to attend but coming from far away? Please contact reception at (02) 8239 0055 or

reception(A)jpf.org.au