Unknown Japan Unveils its Season Five Lineup!

It’s that time of year again, for the great free film series Unknown Japan to grace our fair city with its biannual lineup. Screenings will take place at the The Bellevue, 7th Floor (first half) and at PhilaMOCA (second half), with all films beginning at 7:30 PM.  Films will be screened digitally in Japanese with English subtitles; admission and popcorn are free.

The series is curated by Cinedelphia.com in association with the Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia (JASGP).

Check after the jump for the full list of titles and dates.

 WED February 13, 2013 @ The Bellevue
Rambling Guitarist (1959)
Dir. Buichi Saito
77 min.
The first installment of a classic nine-film Nikkatsu series concerning a young wandering delinquent with a good heart.

WED February 20, 2013 @ The Bellevue
Golgo 13 (1973)
Dir. Jun’ya Sato
104 min.
The first live-action adaptation of Japan’s longest running manga series featuring an entirely Iranian cast aside from star Ken Takakura.

WED February 27, 2013 @ The Bellevue
Godspeed You! Black Emperor (1976)
Dir. Mitsuo Yanagimachi
90 min.
The definitive documentary on Japan’s motorcycle-riding youth culture of the 1970s that focuses upon the day-to-day activities of the Black Emperors gang.

WED March 6, 2013 @ PhilaMOCA
Hachi-ko (1987)
Dir. Seijiro Koyama
107 min.
The most well-known of the many adaptations of the heartbreaking story of Japan’s most loyal dog, Hachi; the highest grossing Japanesefilm of 1987.

WED March 13, 2013 @ PhilaMOCA
Sweet Home (1989)
Dir. Kiyoshi Kurasawa
100 min.
An oddball, pop art haunted house film from director Kiyoshi Kurosawa (Tokyo Sonata)

WED March 20, 2013 @ PhilaMOCA
University of Laughs (2004)
Dir. Mamoru Hoshi
121 min.
A surprisingly heartwarming tale of art censorship during WWII; a young playwright spars with a government censor in this adaptation of a much-loved stage play.