ASIAN AMERICAN FILMS

Godzilla: King of Monsters – (125 min. B&W) When American reporter Steve Martin investigates a series of mysterious disasters off the coast of Japan, he comes face to face with an ancient creature so powerful and so terrifying that it can reduce Tokyo to a smoldering graveyard. Nuclear weapons testing resurrected this relic from the Jurassic age, and now it’s rampaging across Japan.

Gung Ho – Directed by Ron Howard. When Michael Keaton persuades a Japanese auto firm to repoen his hometown’s defunct auto factory, he’s a hero. But when the Japanese hire him to enforce their policies among his American co-workers, he goes from hero to zero in seconds flat.

My Geisha – Directed by Jack Cardiff. Meet Lucy Dell, an enormously popular Hollywood comedinne married to a move-maker Paul Robaix. And meet Yoki Mori, the recently discovered geisha star of Paul’s in-progress film versions of Madame Butterfly. Paul doesn’t know it yet, but that’s no geisha – that’s his wife.

Picture Bride – (95 min.) Directed by Kayo Hatta. With only a picture in hand, a beautiful young woman leaves behind all she knows for the far-off islands of Hawaii – and an arranged marriage with a man she has never met.

Rising Sun – Directed by Philip Kaufman. A Los Angeles special liaison officer is called in to investigate the murder of a call girl in the boardroom of a Japanese corporation. Accompanied by a detective with unusual knowledge of Japanese culture, the two men must unravel the mystery behind the murder.

Wedding Banquet, The  (1993, 108 min) Directed by Ang Lee. A gay Taiwanese yuppie that lives with his American lover tries to end his family’s endless matchmaking attempts by  announcing he’s engaged. His parents immediately fly in to meet the bride, an illegal Chinese alien in need of a green card. Within days, they turn the planned quickie City Hall marriage into a banquet with hundreds of guests – and their son’s easy deception quickly becomes a very complicated affair.

CHINESE FILMS

“China after Tiananmen” – (approx. 1 hr. TV Copy) Documentary on the social and economical changes before and after the Tiananmen Square incident. The documentary itself mainly focuses on interviews.

A Confucian Life in American: Tu Wei-Ming – (30 min.) Whether lecturing at Beijing University or in his classroom at Harvard University, Tu Wei-Ming personifies the meeting of the East and the West. In this interview, Tu-Wei-Ming and Bill Moyers discuss the relevance of Confucian philosophy to our times.

Blue Kite, The – (1993, 138 min.) Directed by Tian Zhuangzhuang. Tietou’s parents, both loyal communist party members, learn that even the most innocent criticisms can be interpreted by the Party as imperialist propaganda.   Over the next fifteen years, Tietou observes the adverse effects of party policy on various family members. The only image of hope and freedom offered in the film is a blue kite given to Teitou by his father.

Buddha Bless America – (1994, 70 min.) Directed by Wu Nien-Jen. During the period of martial law in Taiwan, the American fleet was deployed to the island of Taiwan. This film portrays changes in one small village when the American forces were deployed.

China Revolution: 1911 to 1949, The – (105 min. TV copy) Begins the documentary with the overthrow of the Ching dynasty and the emergence of the Nationalist and Communist parties.

China in Revolution: Battle for Survival – 1911 o 1936 – (1937) Documentary on the birth of the new republic, the 1926 military campaign, the Long March and the Invasion of the Japanese in 1937.

China Rising:  Change in Heaven – (1 hr, ORIGINAL ONLY) Documentary on the Communist and Nationalist confrontation and the early economic reforms after the Communist victory.

China Springs, 1989 – Documentary concerning the Tiananmen Square incident. style="mso-spacerun: yes">  Quality of the recording is poor.

China: The Official Chinese Government Version in Chinese – A documentary made by the Chinese Government on what happened in Tiananmen Square on that fated day.

Chinese Revolution, The style='font-weight: normal'>– (36 min, B&W) This documentary shows how Sun Yat-Sen’s idealism cam under Bolshevik guidance, the roles of Chiang Kai-Shek and Mao, the Long March, and the Japanese invasion of China.

Choice for a Chinese Woman: Enlightenment in a Buddhist Convent – (35 min.) This program looks at le inside the convent, at the religious conventions and convictions of a people trained since the Maoist revolution to disdain religion.

City of Fire When an undercover police officer is murdered, and an upstart start is brought into replace the him, Chief Liu is pressures his nephew, another undercover police officer, into continuing the case. However, his nephew is torn between betraying a friend who saved his life, and his obligations to his job.

City of Sadness – (2 hr, MISSING) Set during the end of the Japanese occupation of the island of Taiwan, the story is based on the fall of a well-to-do family during these turbulent times.

Crows and Sparrows (1949, 108 min.) Directed by Zheng Junli. A landlord tries to sell his Shanghai boarding house and emigrate to Taiwan before the Communist takeover. style="mso-spacerun: yes">  His tenants struggle to keep their homes.

Family (Jia) – (124 min.) Directed by Chen Xihe. This is a story about a bureaucratic landlord and his family. As the head of the family Old Man Kao imposes his will on his family, while his son discovers the only way to be free and happy is to smash this feudal society.

From Mao to Mozart: Isaac Stern in China – (1980, 84 min.) Directed by Murray Lemer in 1980. In 1979 Isaac Stern accepted a state invitation to China.  Through his performances and tutoring, Stern was able to help the Chinese Breath new life into their music form.

Gate of Heavenly Peace (1995, 189 min.) Directed by Carma Hinton and Richard Gordon. This documentary revisits the Tiananmen Square demonstrations, and the events leading up to the protests and massacre of June 4^th.

Girl from Hunan, The – A story of a betrothed bride who succumbs to temptation and must face the consequences of her mistake.

Happy Together – (1997, 97min) Directed by Wong Kar-Wai. The story of a pair of homosexual lovers and the course of their waning relationship.

Heart of the Dragon Episode 4: Believing – (57min.) Documentary of the traditional and modern doctrines that has shaped contemporary Chinese attitudes through the portraits of people in the Shandong province.

Herdsman, The – (1982, 106 min.) Directed by Xie Jin. The story of a reunion of father and son at a Peking Hotel.  The father had fled to America without his family, while his son had been rehabilitated and sent to the northwestern pastures to teach.

Ju Dou - (98 min.) They were destined, if not doomed to be together. She was the mill owner’s battered wife; he was his overworked nephew. Out of their plight grew a profound and powerful secret love. Their hearts were free, but only murder could free the lovers, or could it?

Lao She: “Teahouse” – The story of a teahouse and the period of turmoil in China. Throughout the film, foreign influence and corrupt government suppress the honest and patriotic.

Lin Family Shop, The (Lin Jia Puzi) – (1959, 90 min.) Shopkeeper Lin tries to keep his shop alive during the boycott of Japanese goods, but when Lin finally flees, he abandons those who had entrusted money in his shop.

Mao Years, The – (2 hr.) TV documentary on Mao’s policies, reforms and their effects on China.

Misunderstanding China – A news documentary on the American perception of China prior to Nixon’s visit to China.

Mongolian Tale - (103 min.) Directed  by Xie Fei.  Someyer’s fiancée unexpectedly returns to Inner Mongolia years after his assignment in the city had ended.  When he perceives a shocking surprise as an act of Someyer’s betrayal, Beiyinpalica will ultimately feel forced to leave Mongolia and his dreams. Now a famous troubadour, Beiyinpalica recounts his true love for the woman he abandoned while his search to find her again ensues.

Mystery of Chi – (3 hrs) Directed by Bill Moyers. This film presents a look at the two different philosophies of medical treatment, the Chinese medical philosophies, and the new developments in Western medicine to incorporate these ideas.

Nanking 1937 – This film focuses on the woes which befell a Chinese-Japanese family and a young couple during “The Rape of Nanking” in 1937.

New Year Sacrifice – A young widow is forced by her mother and her scheming cousin-in-law to remarry a mountaineer. Though this marriage was blissful, the family is broken up once more by the sudden death of her husband and their child.

Nightline Report on China

Old Well

Once Upon a Time

One Village in China – (1987) Directed by Carma Hinton and Richard Gordon.

Paradise of Adventurers – This documentary focuses on the rise and fall of the warlords, the beginning of the Communist party and the Japanese invasion from a nationalist point of view.

Peter Ustinov in China

Raise the Red Lantern – (1991, 125 min.) Directed by Zhang Yimou. 19 year old Songlian has become the Fourth Wife to the wealthy Chen. The place where Chen will sleep is marked by a red lantern, this lantern brings with it the privileges that none of the wives will give up. When Songlian discovers the other wives manipulating their way to win the red lantern, she decides to join in the fight for Chen’s affections.

Rassais in China

Red Firecracker, Green Firecracker (1994, 117 min.) Directed by He Ping. with no male heirs, the Chai family has raided their daughter to run the fireworks factory. Renounced of her femininity, she is clothed like a man and forbidden to marry. A role which she accepts until a rebellious young artist becomes employed at the factory.

Red Sorghum (1987, 91 min) Directed by Zhang Yimou. A lusty romantic comedy beginning with a young bride’s arrival and ensuing seduction at a remote winery and ends as a heroic and harrowing drama of partisan resistance during the Japanese occupation.

Return from Silence: China’s Revolutionary Writers

Road to Freedom (60 min, ORIGINAL ONLY) A documentary about the Cultural Revolution and the economic changes after the Cultural Revolution.

Secret Life of Chairman Mao, The (180 min) This set of documentaries is about Mao, his life and its influence on China.

Slaying the Dragon (1988, 60 min, B&W) By Deborah Gee. A focused look at the media stereotypes of Asian and Asian American women from early Hollywood films to our modern day news anchors, and how this has changed the perception of Asian American women.

Small Happiness: Women of a Chinese Village (1984) Directed by Carma Hinton and Richard Gordon.

Spring Festival Directed by Huang Zhanghong. During Spring Festival, families reunite and forget the misfortunes and unhappiness of the passing year. However, for one old couple finds themselves alone on New Year’s Eve until the next day making for a day of joys, sorrows, life and love.

Story of Qiu Ju, The (1993, 100 min) Directed by Zhang Yimou. Qiu Ju, a peasant woman, demands and apology from the proud village chief when her husband is kicked in the groin. However, the chief refuses to apologize, Qui Ju is sent on a futile journey through the complicated court system.

Super Citizen Ko (120 min) Mr. Ko, a political prisoner during the period of martial law in Taiwan, attempts to make amends for his past mistakes and find peace with his conscious.

The Truth about Suppressing the Chaos and Pacifying the Counter Revolutionary Violence

Through a Chinese Woman’s Eyes (1997, 52 min) By Mayfair Yang. This documentary examines the attempts to erase gender differences under Mao through the use of propaganda.

To be Young in China

To Live (Hua Zhe)

Women Being (1995, 20 min) Examining the concepts of beauty and sexuality in China and the consequences of these new ideas.

Yellow Earth

Yellow Earth/ Red Dynasty

EAST ASIAN DANCE AND MUSIC

Afternoon for Kunqu, An

Ancient Chinese Bell/Pop Music (120 min)

Asakawa Maki: “The World of Asakwa Maki”

Bunraku, Nagauta: The Heart of Kabuki Music (60 min)

Bunraku : A performance and explanation of the Bunraku, the puppet theater of Japan.

Nagauta: The Heart of Kabuki Music: A historic review of Su Hirogari as it evolved from a comic Kyogen in the medieval Noh drama and a demonstration.

Chinese Music: Sounds of the Revolution

Japanese Drumming meets West African Dancing

Japanese Music and Dance Performance at Crowell, on April 22, 1993

Noh, Gazaku, Shinto Music Festival (90 min)

Gagaku : A historic look at the origins of Gagaku and a performance by the Imperial Court Orchestra

No (Noh): An introduction towards the various musical forms and history behind the Noh drama, and a demonstration by the Noh drama troupe led by Kinzo Komparu.

Shinto Music Festival: An introduction towards the rituals of Shinto and Japanese mythology. The Hayashi Ensemble led by Taneo Wakayama performs to accompany the performance.

On the Aesthetic of Traditional  Japanese Dance and Music

Peking Opera Selections

Yamashita Jazz Trio at Crowell Concert Hall, Wesleyan University, May 8, 2000

Yi Gu Ren: Thinking of an Old Friend, Wu Wenguang

JAPANESE MOVIES AND FILMS

Akira (1989. 124 min) Directed by Katsuhiro Otomo. In the 21^st Century, 30 years after a devastating global nuclear war, mankind is once again on the brink of total annihilation. In a world populated by rival motorcycle gangs and petty politicians, a powerful psychic force known only as “AKIRA”, suddenly resurfaces in Neo-Tokyo. Tetseu – a young inexperience biker – driven beyond the boundaries of sanity by the power of AKIRA, is forced to conjure up demons lying within his subconscious.

Ballad of Navayama Directed by Shohei Imura

Basket maker in Rural Japan, A (1994, 11 min) Made by Arthur M. Sackler Gallery. Introduces the life work of Hiroshima Kazuo, the last professional Basket maker in the Hinokage region of Kyushu.

Dodes: “Ka-Den” (1970, 140 min) By Kurosawa Akira. This movie is about a group of Tokyo slum dwellers who huddle together on the desolate fringes of the city. Some are drunk, some are handicapped. but all cheated by life.

Dream  Girls (50 min) Thousands of young Japanese women apply each year to enter the Takarazuka Music School. The few that are accepted endure years of a highly discipline and reclusive existence before they can join the Revue. Millions of Japanese women adore the romantic heroes, idolizing them like heartthrob pop stars. “We’ll never meet men like this,” says two young girls, “but it helps you forget the pain of life for a while.” A Japanese PARIS IS BURNING with a twist.

Dream Windows: Reflections of the Japanese Garden (1992, 57 min) Made by the Smithsonian Institute in association with Kajima Vision.

Early Summer (1951) Directed by Ozu Yasujiro.

Ei-janaika Directed by Shohei Imura

Family Game, The (Kazoku Geimu) (1983, 107 min) Directed by Monta Yoshimitsu. Shigeyuki’s parents have bribed him with everything that money can buy, yet the boy still won’t study. He’s the classical problem teenager, bright, handsome and devoid of ambition. What is a fine, upstanding, and respectable Japanese family to do?

Floating Weed (Ukigusa) (1959) Directed by Ozu Yasujiro.

From the Firestorm: Nippon (60 min) Documentary on the reconstruction of Japan after World War II under US supervision.

Funeral, The (Ososhiki) (1987) Directed by Itami Juzo.

Gonza the Spearman Directed by Masahira Shinoda.

High and Low (143 min) Directed by Kurosawa Akira. Kingo Gondo, a wealthy manufacturer, is about to take over a company he has worked for all his life when a mysterious phone call informs him that his son has been kidnapped. When it is discovered that the kidnappers has taken the chauffeur’s son by mistake, Gondo is faced with the prospect of paying the ransom and facing financial ruin or letting the boy die.

Ikiru (1952, 134 min, B&W) Directed by Kurosawa Akira. Told that he only has a short time left to live, a bureaucrat at first reacts with a drunken spree, only to realize through unselfishness can he redeem his otherwise wasted life.

In the Name of the Emperor (52 min)

Insect Woman (ONE COPY ONLY, NO ORIGINAL)

Iyomande: the Ainu Bear Festival

Japan Past and Present: The Meiji Period (53 min) The arrival of Commodore Perry in 1854 sets the stage for Japan’s leap forward. The ports of Japan were forced open and the last Shogun gave way to the 15- year old emperor.

Japanese Pilgrimage (Oliver Slater)

Japanese Version, The (56 min) Presenting the influences of western cultural ideas and objects in Japan.

Kabuki (26 min) This film provides an introduction to Kabuki. Explaining the origins, purpose, symbolism and literary sources of Kabuki.

Minbo, the Gentle Art of Japanese Extortion Directed by Juzo Itami.

Nanami, First Love (1968, 104 min) Directed by Susumu Hani. Drama of passionate desire and psychological turbulence.

Neighborhood Tokyo, Japan: Resources for Understanding (28 min) A brief glimpse into the daily life of an average neighborhood in Tokyo.

Nippon: Japan since 1945 (ORIGINAL ONLY)

Portrait of an Onnagata (30 min) Men playing the roles of women is as old as the history of the theater in the tradition of Kabuki, the portrayal of female characters has become a tradition of its own. This film looks at the history of Kabuki and the role of women and the dynastic development of the onnagata – the female impersonator – and the intricate techniques and details by which a thoroughly masculine male transforms himself into a man’s dream of the womanly woman, more perfect and more feminine than any real woman, young lover, geisha, or princess.

Rashamon (1950, 83 min, B&W) Directed by Akira Kurosawa.  A man is murdered and his wife raped by a bandit.  Flashbacks tell four different version of what had occurred.

Realm of the Senses (1976, 104 min) Directed by Nagisa Oshima. A story of an ex-prostitute who becomes involved in an obsessive relationship with the master of the household where she is employed.  What started as a casual diversion, turns into a passion without bounds.

Rikyu: Hiroshi Teshigahara

Sandakan No. 8 (1974, 121 min) Directed by Kei Kumai. Keiko, a young journalist, travels to the remote regions of Japan to investigate the life of the karayuki-san. There in the country, Saki, an old lady, befriends Keiko and tells the tale of her life as a karayuki-san in Borneo.

Seven Samurai (1954, 197 min, B&W) Directed by Kurosawa Akira.  For years a Japanese village has been constantly raided by bandits.  Anticipating another raid, a distressed community attempts to hire professional warriors for protection. One by one the samurai are recruited.

Shall We Dance? Directed by Masayuki Suo. A workaholic’s dull life takes a turn when he signs up for his ballroom dance class just to meet the sexy dance teacher. He winds up with a different instructor and now he must tread lightly if he expects to keep his new secret passion from his family and friends.

Shinto: History, God and Man in Japan . (48 min) Directed by Peter Grilli.

Showa (200 min, B&W) This film focuses on the key episodes from the beginning of the reign of Emperor Hirohito, to Japan’s decision to withdraw from the League of Nations.

Street of Shame (1956, 88 min, B&W) Directed by Mizoguchi Kenji. A film examining the dreams and problems of half a dozen prostitutes living in a Tokyo brothel.

Talking Tough to Tokyo: US and Japanese Relations Crossfire #1897

Tampopo (1987, 74 min) Directed by Itami Juzo. A story of a young widow who runs a small noodle shop in Tokyo and her quest for the perfect bowl of ramen.

Tetsuo: The Iron Man (92 min, B&W) Directed by Greg Nickson.

The Yamaguchi Story: Buddhism and Family in Contemporary Japan

Tokyo Story (1953) Directed by Yasujiro Ozu. An elderly couple journey to Tokyo, where they are received less than enthusiastically by their children. When a death occurs, the generational conflicts are stilled.

Ugestu (1953, 96 min, B&W) Directed by Mizoguchi Kenji. Two peasants in war-torn Japan abandon their families to seek their fortunes in the spoils of war. In attaining his goal, each man destroys his own life.

Violence at High Noon Directed by Nagisa Oshima.

Washin-Ryu, Karate (Peaceful Mind) Karate: The Art of Self Defense

Woman in the Dunes (1964, 123 min, B&W) Directed by Hiroshi Teshigahara. Stranded in a remote region of Japan, an entomologist is give shelter for the night in a sand pit inhabited by a hapless woman who slaves to unearth sand necessary for her community’s survival. When morning comes, the entomologist finds himself a prisoner.

Yojimbo (1961) Directed by Kurosawa Akira.

Yukata