Third Window Films Discussion Thread

[thirdwindowfilms]

Originally Posted by whedon

That is currently playing as part of the Japanese Film Festival in Ireland and possibly the UK. I quite like it when I saw it last year, it's a small film which doesn't do anything new but Yakusho is great in it and it is the kind of low key drama that could do quite well.

If you like it then Takahisa Zeze's The Promised Land may be worth a watch and Kazuya Shiraishi's Sea of Revival covers similar ground.



I do want to see all of them but getting DVDs never mind Blu-Rays of them is hard. I know I can pirate them but I'd much prefer to support a filmmaker like Yoshida as best I can. Nothing more depressing than finding a film maker you love and then going to Letterboxd or other to see where their films are and seeing WHERE TO WATCH: No availability.

My big hope from Covid is that festivals embrace online, I was spoilt last summer thanks to my VPN and online festivals, most had stuff available worldwide but a few were region restricted and I managed to see a number of films I would never otherwise have got to. Having become a dad recently and not going to the cinema for fear of getting Covid so missing the Japanese Film Festival on atm, but online festival screenings have made a huge difference. Getting to watch something like Soi Cheang's Limbo from the comfort of my own home was nice and I now this year I get to watch some of them while a tiny human sleeps in my arms.

I know Netflix is getting better for foreign stuff but when they can't even be arsed to put the film poster or title on the image for foreign films it shows how little they care. Hand Rolled Cigarette which I really liked and is one of the few modern Chinese films to not just be propaganda has been on Netflix over here for months and it's still just a still of Gordon Lam without even the title.

Unfortunately many Asian companies, especially Japanese, are super against online festivals. And LIMBO itself was a big issue in the fact that Udine played it online and it was pirated which caused a big problem with its sales company and made them stop allowing online festivals to play it.
Nippon Connection also had issues when they went online and their films got pirated, which actually caused them to be sued by one company.

[jackranderson]

Reading Adam's posts has been incredibly insightful, I'd heard bad things about the Japanese industry but didn't realise it was this bad.

[whedon]

Originally Posted by thirdwindowfilms

Unfortunately many Asian companies, especially Japanese, are super against online festivals. And LIMBO itself was a big issue in the fact that Udine played it online and it was pirated which caused a big problem with its sales company and made them stop allowing online festivals to play it.
Nippon Connection also had issues when they went online and their films got pirated, which actually caused them to be sued by one company.

That's disappointing to hear, I was surprised to see Limbo streaming with English subs as I thought it was such a big title that they'd not allow it or insist on hard Italian subs to cut down on piracy like they did with Blood of Wolves 2.

It's a shame as a lot of what I saw online at both I would never otherwise have had a chance to see or in some cases taken a chance on. I think of the 20 films I streamed there was only one dud in Sugar Street Studio which I thought was a Mr Vampire like a throwback but was more of a teen soap opera. That said it was well made enough that I am eagert to see Lau's almost 4 hour A Perfect Day for Arsenide.

[bleedandtrim]

Hate to break the current stream of topical discussion at hand, but just wanted to give thanks to Adam/TWF for the copy of Funky Forest & The Warped Forest I won recently in a Twitter giveaway! Was accidentally sent Hiruko first but Adam was generous enough to let me keep it, so big ups to him and his generous self!

Excited to dive into both of these - especially Hiruko, as me and my partner have been working through Arrow's Yokai Monsters set recently and are hungry for more mythical weirdness!

[siavash1996]

I would find it to be a massive shame if this whole thing derailed the forthcoming Suicide Club release. I usually consider it in the same camp as Battle Royale when it comes to cultural importance in Japanese cinema, so to not have a HD transfer after all this time has been a bummer. Knowing that no royalties would make it into the pockets of Sion Sono from overseas home video, maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to promote a certain percentage of the proceeds going towards a charity or fund that supports the #MeToo movement, especially in Japan.

[diceman89]

Is the release of Memories of Matsuko out of print, or is it just between pressings or something?

[thirdwindowfilms]

Originally Posted by diceman89

Is the release of Memories of Matsuko out of print, or is it just between pressings or something?

it's out of print. Had tried to renegotiate the rights, but it wasn't easy to do and sort of gave up.

[diceman89]

Originally Posted by thirdwindowfilms

it's out of print. Had tried to renegotiate the rights, but it wasn't easy to do and sort of gave up.

That's a shame. Hopefully something will work out in the future.

[Cinematt]

Fopp Manchester have a Third Window sale on, most of the stuff in their picture is £10 including the OCOTD Hollywood Edition. Is this going to be Fopp instore only or will it make it to HMV online? OCOTDHE, Funuke, and Tezuka’s Barbara are the only things I need now for a full set but I’m currently about 2000 miles from a Fopp!
https://twitter.com/foppmanc/status/...sfdf8aAc9VhF9Q

[NormanicGrav]

Originally Posted by Cinematt

Fopp Manchester have a Third Window sale on, most of the stuff in their picture is £10 including the OCOTD Hollywood Edition. Is this going to be Fopp instore only or will it make it to HMV online? OCOTDHE, Funuke, and Tezuka’s Barbara are the only things I need now for a full set but I’m currently about 2000 miles from a Fopp!
https://twitter.com/foppmanc/status/...sfdf8aAc9VhF9Q

I don't think any of FOPP's sales ever made it to HMV or HMV Online.

[dbvsh]

Will post a pic later but that sale is also in Fopp Covent Garden and release in stock with slipcases are all £10. My wallet hurts... Looks like everything until Funky Forest on sale (not box sets).

[goodnowt]

Originally Posted by thirdwindowfilms

That's handled by GAGA who are very hard to work with, so I wouldn't hold your breath!

That makes me really sad to hear. I wish there were more releases with English subs for Japanese films directed by women. We're definitely seeing progress in the US (can't say I'm as familiar with UK cinema in this regard) on giving more women in cinema their due here, and I keep hoping that maybe I'll get to see more attention given to highlighting female directors from East Asia (especially Japan, as that's where more of my studies and academic work have been directed).

Which, side note, I was very happy to pick up a few Third Window releases directed or co-directed by women! It's a sparse landscape out there, and not speaking Japanese myself, it was a delight picking up Kakera, Quirky Guys and Gals, and New Directors from Japan from y'all.

[goodnowt]

Originally Posted by gap

I'm just one customer, but I will buy Suicide Club even if it is a barebones release.

Same! I crave a better image than the US DVD.

Like, I'm always torn in situations like these because I have a professional background in both Women's and Gender Studies and Film Studies (including working with archivists), and on the balance of things, I usually err on enabling film access because it decreases the likelihood of a work being lost or damaged. It gets ethically complicated, of course, and I'll never judge someone for not engaging with the work of a problematic artist, but there are just too many pieces of art lost to the annals of time (does it show I also engage with centuries old art, too? lol). And I truly believe art can transcend the faults of creators.

[dbvsh]

As promised Fopp Covent Garden pic...



In my defence, I was holding 10 discs at the time and I wasn't paying enough attention

This was my haul, £10 each.



Do check the normal World section downstairs, there are more (and more slipcases) normally stocked with the sale prices on them too.

[roguejp]

There's a new podcast up, which is about the upcoming release of Onoda. It's got a big interesting interview with the director Harari. I've halfway listening (I always listen during my workout ), but I going to buy this one for sure.

[fatboyslim142]

Originally Posted by dbvsh

As promised Fopp Covent Garden pic...



In my defence, I was holding 10 discs at the time and I wasn't paying enough attention

This was my haul, £10 each.



Do check the normal World section downstairs, there are more (and more slipcases) normally stocked with the sale prices on them too.

Are there any copies of Getting Any? left with Slip covers?

[dbvsh]

Originally Posted by fatboyslim142

Are there any copies of Getting Any? left with Slip covers?

There was one left in the world section downstairs yesterday lunchtime. Someone had just nabbed Gemini with slipcover in front of me so I would not be so sure on the chances of it still being there. Worth a try if you are nearby.

[Aunt Peg]

Originally Posted by roguejp

There's a new podcast up, which is about the upcoming release of Onoda. It's got a big interesting interview with the director Harari. I've halfway listening (I always listen during my workout ), but I going to buy this one for sure.

I have heard nothing but raves about Onoda. It also won a Caesar recently - I think it was a screenplay award.

Can't wait to get my hands on it.

[bleedandtrim]

Tempted to check out Onoda at a local screening in the Cine Lumiere in London.

Also worth mentioning here; some TWF stuff on discount in Arrow's Easter Sale at the moment;
https://www.arrowfilms.com/easter-sale-2022.list

[TomN245]

Hey Adam, If I ordered the Ujicha and Top Knot Detective from the Arrow Sale would they come with slipcovers?