Japanese Cinema EclecticsJapanese Cinema Eclectics

A Multi-part Series Devoted to Unexplored Tangents of the Japanese Film curated by Donald Richie
Film: "Vibrator" (baibureita) 2003, 95mins.
Directed by Hiroki Ryuichi
Photographed by Kazuhiro Suzuki
With Terajim Shinobu, Omori Nao, Makise Riho, Murakami Jun, Sakajou Miki, Taguchi Tomoro, Takayangi Eriko, Toda Masahiro, and Eugene Nomura.




Language: Introduction by Donald Richie in English
Film in Japanese with English subtitles (film to be followed by a Q&A moderated by Donald Richie)

(Review of movie from NY Times)

"Vibrator" (baibureita)

2003-Japan-Road Movie/Psychological Drama

PLOT DESCRIPTION
Internationally acclaimed Japanese film director Ryuichi Hiroki (I Am an S&M Writer, Tokyo Trash Baby) takes the helm for this cathartic road movie concerning the transformative journey of an emotionally-unstable writer and adapted from the novel by Mari Akasaka. Rei (Shinobu Terashima) is a freelance writer whose inner demons have driven her to self-medicate. It's during one of her late-night beer-runs to a local urban mini-mart that Rei makes the acquaintance of handsome young trucker Okabe (Nao Omori) - who has taken a momentary pit stop to fill up his tank and grab some snacks. After the two form a friendly bond in the late night hours where anything seems
possible, Rei climbs into Okabe's rig for an impromptu road trip that will lead her to find out more about herself than she would ever learn while sitting home and drinking alone. As the dawn draws near on the edge of the horizon, what at first appeared to be a one-night stand gradually transforms into a momentous meeting of chance. ‾ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Donald Richie

Donald Richie is widely regarded as the pre-eminent authority on Japanese film. The author of over 40 books, including The Films of Akira Kurosawa (1965); Ozu (1974), and One Hundred Years of Japanese Film (2002), he was Curator of Film at the New York Museum of Modern Art (1968 to 1973). Named by TIME magazine, the dean of Japan’s arts critics, Susan Sontag has said of him "Donald Richie writes about Japan with an unrivaled range, acuity, and wit."
In this series dedicated to unexplored tangents of the Japanese Film, Donald Richie will introduce and discuss the movie “Vibrator,” Director Ryuichi Hiroki’s cathartic road movie of an emotionally-unstable writer whom one critic described as “so lost that the only sensations she feels is the vibration of the mobile phone in her pocket.” Until she meets this truck driver. Winner of over a dozen international film awards.

Institute of Contemporary Japanese Studies-ICJS
The ICJS is an organization dedicated to fostering study and research on various topics related to contemporary Japan. The Institute hosts lectures, seminars, and symposia that provide a forum for Japanese studies scholars to present their work on issues related to contemporary Japanese social, cultural, and political issues. The ICJS reflects TUJ's commitment to offering research and study programs linking Japan and other countries, fostering greater overseas understanding of Japan, and serving an innovative role in International Education in Japan.

For information, please contact:
Institute of Contemporary Japanese Studies Temple University, Japan Campus
tel. 03-5441-9800, ext. 709
e-mail. icjs@tuj.ac.jp

Sponsored by The Institute of Contemporary Japanese Studies (ICJS)
Temple University, Japan Campus
Hosted by SuperDeluxe

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A documental slide show of OEIL

March 4th - 30th