The Embassy of Japan in Lithuania, together with the Japan Foundation, invites Klaipėda residents and visitors to the 24th Japan Film Festival!

On February 28 at 6 p.m., there will be a festival screening of the film “The Art of Swimming.”

The screening is free of charge.
Free tickets will be distributed at the Arlekin cinema box office just before the screening. The number of seats is limited.

About the film:

Film: Yudo: The Way of the Bath (2023, 126 min),
N-7 Director
: Masayuki Suzuki
Original language: Japanese
Subtitles: Lithuanian, English
Genre: comedy

The screenwriter of the film, Kundo Kojama, creator of the Oscar-winning film Departures (Departures) and the creator of the legendary Kumamoto Prefecture mascot Kumamon, once again proves his ability to find human warmth in the most unexpected places. This time, he turns to the tradition of bathing, deeply rooted in Japanese culture, presenting bathing in a public bath as a unique art form, which he himself has been consistently cultivating for more than a decade.

When architect Shiro Miura’s business in the big city collapses, he reluctantly returns to his hometown and the public bathhouse he inherited from his father along with his younger brother, where unresolved family and life problems quietly simmer beneath the steam. Surrounded by daily rituals and warm steam, Shiro gradually realizes that inner peace lies in what he once tried to escape from.
See you at the cinema!

———–

The Embassy of Japan in Lithuania together with the Japan Foundation would like to invite you to the 24th Japanese Film Festival in Klaipėda!

The screening on February 27 at 6:00 PM will feature the film “Yudo.”

The film will be shown in the original language with Lithuanian and English subtitles.

Admission is free.
Free tickets will be distributed at the Arlekinas Cinema ticket office just before the screening.

About the film:

Yudo: The Way of the Bath (2023, 126 min), N-7
(Japanese: Yudo)
Director: Masayuki Suzuki
Original language: Japanese
Subtitles: Lithuanian, English
Genre: Comedy

Screenwriter Kundo Koyama, creator of the Oscar-winning film Departures and the father of the legendary Kumamoto Prefecture’s bear mascot “Kumamon”, once again proves his ability to find human warmth in the most unexpected places. This time he turns to the tradition of bathing, deeply rooted in Japanese culture, presenting it as a unique art form, which he himself has been consistently cultivating for more than a decade. The film stars a popular actor of the younger generation – Toma Ikuta, who has amassed a brilliant career across Japanese television drama and film, as well as becoming the face of this Japanese film festival.

When architect Shiro Miura’s business in the big city flounders, he reluctantly returns to his country hometown and the public bathhouse he inherited from his father along with his younger brother, where unresolved family and life problems quietly simmer beneath the steam. Surrounded by daily rituals and warm steam, Shiro gradually realizes that inner peace lies in the very thing he once tried to escape.
See you at the cinema! 

The Embassy of Japan in Lithuania, together with the Japan Foundation, invites Klaipėda residents and visitors to the 24th Japan Film Festival!

On February 27 at 4 p.m., there will be a festival screening of the film “Melo’s Long Legs”—a witty crime comedy starring Kiičis Nakai (“The Burmese Harp,” 47 Ronin) and Kuranosuke Sasaki (Samurai Hustle), two prominent veterans of Japanese cinema.

The film will be shown in its original language with Lithuanian and English subtitles.

The screening is free of charge.
Free tickets will be distributed at the Arlekin cinema box office just before the screening. The number of seats is limited.

About the film:
Date: February 27, 4:00 p.m.
Location: Arlekinas Cinema (Bangų g. 5A, Klaipėda)

Film: We Make Antiques! (
2018, 105 min), N-13 Director
: Masaharu Take
Original language: Japanese
Subtitles: Lithuanian, English
Genre: comedy

Antique dealer Norio discovers a 16th-century teacup in the warehouse of a wealthy family, which is believed to have once belonged to the famous Japanese tea master Sen no Rikyu. Norio tricks the owner of the house, Sasuke, and acquires the cup for next to nothing, but it soon becomes clear that Sasuke is only the caretaker of the house and that the cup is his own creation. Upon learning that Sasuke was a promising potter whose career was ruined by the same antique appraiser with whom Norio has unfinished business, the two decide on a bold plan to deceive their common enemy.
See you at the cinema!

———————
The Embassy of Japan in Lithuania together with the Japan Foundation would like to invite you to the 24th Japanese Film Festival in Klaipėda!

The first screening of the film festival will take place on February 27 at 4:00 PM, and will feature the film “We make Antiques!”, a witty crime comedy starring Kiichi Nakai (“The Burmese Harp,” “47 Ronin”) and Kuranosuke Sasaki (“Samurai Hustle”), two outstanding veterans of Japanese cinema.

The film will be shown in the original language with Lithuanian and English subtitles.

Admission is free.
Free tickets will be distributed at the Arlekinas Cinema ticket office just before the screening.

About the film:
Date: February 27, 4:00 p.m
. Location: Arlekinas cinema theater, Klaipėda

Film “We Make Antiques!” (2018, 105 min), N-13
(Japanese: “Uso happyaku”)
Director: Masaharu Take
Original language: Japanese
Subtitles: Lithuanian, English
Genre: Comedy

A dowdy antique dealer Norio finds a valuable teacup belonging to the most famous Japanese tea master Sen no Rikyu from the 16th century while searching inside the storehouse of a wealthy family. Norio deceives the homeowner Sasuke to get it for almost nothing, but it turns out that Sasuke is a mere house-sitter and the teacup is made by Sasuke himself. When Norio learns that Sasuke used to be a hopeful potter derailed by an antique authenticator Norio himself has a painful history against, the two decide to make the gamble of a lifetime against the authenticator they both have a score to settle with.
See you at the cinema!

The Embassy of Japan in Lithuania, together with the Japan Foundation, invites Klaipėda residents and visitors to the 24th Japan Film Festival!

On February 28 at 12:00 p.m., there will be a festival screening of the film Step by Step.

The film will be shown in its original language with Lithuanian and English subtitles.
The screening is free of charge.
Free tickets will be distributed at the Arlekin cinema box office just before the screening. Seating is limited.

About the film:
Film “Step” (2020, 118 min), V
(English “Step”, Japanese “Suteppu”) Director: Ken Iizuka Original language: Japanese Subtitles: Lithuanian, English Genre: drama Kenichi’s wife Director
: Ken Iizuka
Original language: Japanese
Subtitles: Lithuanian, English
Genre: drama
Kenichi’s wife Tomoko dies at the age of 30, leaving him alone to raise their daughter Miki. For ten years, from kindergarten to the end of elementary school, the film subtly follows the daily life of a single father and his growing daughter, filled with responsibility, care, and quietly experienced longing. This is a warm, sensitive drama about loss, growing up, and the people who help the main characters move forward with their
closeness.

The Embassy of Japan in Lithuania together with the Japan Foundation would like to invite you to the 24th Japanese Film Festival in Klaipėda!

The first screening of the film festival will take place on February 28 at 12:00 PM, and will feature the film “Step by step.”

The film will be shown in the original language with Lithuanian and English subtitles.

Admission is free.
Free tickets will be distributed at the Arlekinas Cinema ticket office just before the screening.

Film “Step” (2020, 118 min), V
(Japanese “Suteppu”)
Director: Ken Iizuka
Original language: Japanese
Subtitles: Lithuanian, English
Genre: drama

This touching story is directed by Ken Iizuka, known for the popular adaptation of Arakawa Under the Bridge, and stars Takayuki Yamada, an actor known for Densha Otoko and the Netflix hit Naked Director.

Kenichi’s wife Tomoko dies at the age of 30, leaving him to raise his daughter Miki alone. Over the course of ten years, from Miki attending nursery school until her graduation from elementary school, the film delicately follows the daily lives of a single father and his growing daughter, full of duty, care, and quietly experienced longing. It is a warm, moving drama about loss, growing up, and the kind-hearted people who surround the main protagonists, helping them move forward.

See you at the cinema!

The Embassy of Japan in Lithuania, together with the Japan Foundation, invites Klaipėda residents and visitors to the 24th Japan Film Festival!

On February 28 at 2 p.m., there will be a festival screening of the film “Cugaru lako pamišėlė” (The Crazy Woman of Cugaru Lake).

The film will be shown in its original language with Lithuanian and English subtitles.

The screening is free of charge.
Free tickets will be distributed at the Arlekin cinema box office just before the screening. The number of seats is limited.

About the film:
Film “Tsugaru Lacquer Girl” (2023, 118 min), N-7
(English: Tsugaru Lacquer Girl, Japanese: Baka nuri no Musume)
Director: Keiko Tsuruoka
Original language: Japanese
Subtitles: Lithuanian, English
Genre: drama

Cugaru lacquerware, a traditional craft from Japan’s Aomori Prefecture, is also known as “baka-nuri” (“madly meticulous lacquering”) due to its extremely long and complex production process. The lacquer is applied and polished dozens of times before a single piece is completed. The geometric patterns and mirror-like shine formed by the many layers create a timeless beauty.

Miyako Aoki, who lives in Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture, is still searching for her path in life after graduating from high school and works at a shopping center to help support her family. When her father loses the motivation to continue the family’s dying craft, Miyako is forced to look back at the past and her long-hidden passion—hesitant but determined, she must decide whether to take over the Tsugaru lacquer tradition and move forward.

See you at the movies!

———————-

The Embassy of Japan in Lithuania together with the Japan Foundation would like to invite you to the 24th Japanese Film Festival in Klaipėda!

The first screening of the film festival will take place on February 28 at 2:00 PM, and will feature the film “Tsugaru Lacquer Girl.”

The film will be shown in the original language with Lithuanian and English subtitles.

Admission is free.
Free tickets will be distributed at the Arlekinas Cinema ticket office just before the screening.

About the movie:
Movie: Tsugaru Lacquer Girl (2023, 118 min), N-7
(Japanese: Baka Nuri no Musume)
Director: Keiko Tsuruoka
Original language: Japanese
Subtitles: Lithuanian, English
Genre: drama

Tsugaru lacquerware, a traditional craft from Japan’s Aomori Prefecture, is also known as “baka-nuri” (“madly meticulous lacquering”) due to its extremely long and complex production process. The lacquer is applied and polished dozens of times before a single piece is completed. The geometric patterns and mirror-like shine formed by the many layers create a timeless beauty.

Miyako Aoki, who lives with her father in Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture, has not found anything she wants to do after graduating from a local high school and is working at a supermarket to help her family make ends meet. When her father loses the will to continue the business as the industry goes into decline, Miyako has to turn back to the past and her long-hidden passion – hesitant but determined to decide whether or not to take over the Tsugaru lacquer tradition and move forward.
See you at the cinema!