The live return of the art of cinema in the country was celebrated yesterday with The Japan Foundation Manila’s screening of “The Lady and the Beard” by Yasujiro Ozu at the 16th International Silent Film Festival Manila at the the Red Carpet, Shangri-La Mall. Dignitaries, personalities and ardent fans of Japanese culture were on hand for a unique experience of this art form.
The screening was part of the return of the annual International Silent Film Festival Manila (ISFFM) which featured in-person festivities in celebration of sixteen years of reliving rich silent film culture worldwide. The films were live scored by selected Filipino bands and musicians. The silent films were screened from November 24-27, 2022, at the Red Carpet, Shangri-La Mall.
Japan’s film for the festival was “The Lady and the Beard” by Yasujiro Ozu, and the screening was well-attended by dignitaries, personalities and ardent fans of Japanese culture at the the Red Carpet, Shangri-La Mall.
The welcoming speech was given by Japan’s ambassador to the Philippines, Kazuhiko Koshikawa, in which he remarked the progress that has allowed live events to be held again, the importance of the exchange and appreciation of culture by Japan and the Philippines, and the acknowledgement of the collaboration of talents between the two countries in the arts.
“The Lady and the Beard” is a film directed by world-renowned filmmaker Yasujiro Ozu in 1931, scored with original music written by renowned Independent Filipino singer-songwriter and contemporary folk musician Bullet Dumas. He gave life and colors to Japan’s commercially and critically-acclaimed classic silent film as he performed with Jacques Dufourt, Yuna Reguerra, and Gabrielle Mendez.
This romantic comedy follows a kendo master’s journey to shed of his olden ways to better find romance – starting off by shaving his beard. The film follows Okajima, a conservative and self-conscious student who is unable to find work and love because of his magnificent beard, who saves a young girl from a gang of ruffians. At her suggestion, he shaves his beard off and experiences surprising success.
16th International Silent Film Festival Manila (ISFFM) aims to celebrate the strength of silence, and the laughter the audience heard throughout the “The Lady and the Beard” was a testament to this strngth and power.
We would like to thank The Japan Foundation, Manila for bringing this masterpiece to the Filipino public, who truly appreciated this art form and the associated Japanese culture.
arkadymac.com is proud to have been a media partner for this event and to have been able to bring you the highlights of this event.
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