Ayako Miura Film Festival at the International House
Wednesday, October 8, 5:30 PM
International House, 3701 Chestnut Street
Admission $2

►　Summaries

► Shiokari Pass

dir. Noboru Nakamura, Japan, 1975, 63 mins, color, Dubbed from Japanese into English (We will play "Shiokari Pass" in English in a separate room inside International House, and play the Japanese version in the main theater. The Japanese version is 103 mins.) 

This is a powerfully inspirational message based on a true story in 1909, in which a railroad worker, Nobuo Nagano, gave his life to save others at Shiokari Pass in Hokkaido. Nobuo was on his way to meet his fiancee, Fujiko, on his wedding day, and was involved in a tragic train accident.   

 
► Hidden Ranges

dir. Masahisa Sadanaga, Japan, 1983, 96 mins, color, Japanese only, no subtitles

This is also based on a true story, which took place during Japan’s “closed door policy” (sakoku) in the nineteenth century (Tokugawa Era). Having drifted in the Pacific ocean for 14 months before docking in the United States, three Japanese men, Iwakichi, Otokichi and Kyukichi, were being separated from family, being betrayed by their homeland, yet never gave up their hope of returning to Japan.
　

► Freezing Point

dir. Satsuo Yamamoto, Japan, 1966, 97 mins, b/w, Japanese only, no subtitles

The story revolves around a capricious wife and her husband, a prominent doctor, whose daughter was kidnapped and tragically killed. The couple then adopted a foster daughter, Yoko, through their friend who operated an orphanage. Yoko grew into an adorable girl with a beautifully pure heart.  However, there turned out to be a loathsome secret about Yoko's biological father. In 1964, Asahi Shimbun, one of the major national newspapers in Japan, chose Freezing Point as the winner of its writing contest. By 1998, the book had sold more than three million copies throughout Japan.