I want to participate in the Eiga Sai 2009, the Japanese Film Festival held at Shangri la Cineplex. It features a number of movies from (where else) Japan so we Filipinos, who are captives of Hollywood films, can appreciate Asian movies. They are actually good.

I developed an appreciation of Japanese culture and movies, too when I was still in high school. But for the life of me, I still can’t figure out how the Japanese get inspiration for their really scary horror movies. Try “A Tale of Two Sisters,” or “The Ring” or “The Grudge.” Watch them in their original Japanese versions and you’ll creep yourself! In any case, having Japanese films shown in the Philippines is a good break from formulaic films from Hollywood.

Eiga Sai started on July 2 and will end on July 12. Don’t worry if you miss some of these movies though, come August, they will be shown at the UP Diliman Film Center. Here’s the schedule for July 9 to 12.

JULY 9
2 PM Turn Over
430 PM Memories of Tomorrow
7 PM Always – Sunset on Third Street

JULY 10
2 PM The Milkwoman
430 PM Memories of Matsuko
7 PM Tony Takitani

JULY 11
2 PM Kamome Diner
430 PM Tony Takitani
7 PM Memories of Tomorrow

JULY 12
2 PM Mind Game
430 PM Always – Sunset on Third Street
7 PM Memories of Matsuko

For the synopses of these movies, please check this link from Clickthecity.com