A number of the films by these four directors particularly (as well as others mentioned in the list below) are worth viewing as historical resources valuable for the insights they provide into the Japanese view of themselves, their present and their past. Another series of contemporary films has been assembled on DVD by the course instructor during his 2003 sabbatical semeseter in Japan.  
  
For this assignment, you are to choose to view one or two of the films listed below (All are available at the Cleveland Public Library -- many may also be available at your local video rental store.), approved by the instructor as suitable for the assignment.

Having seen the film, you need to write a three to four page analytical essay detailing how the film illuminates your understanding of themes (for example, the role of tradition, modernization and westernization over the centuries) we have been discussing in the course during the semester.  
  
Do NOT merely summarize the film's plot and comment on how "good" or "bad" the movie was as a film viewing experience; instead treat it as an historical source and concentrate on ways in which it illuminated aspects of contemporary Japanese life and / or culture encountered in the course lectures, in the assigned texts or in other source materials you have read.  
  
What did the film show you about the nature of society and/or culture in contemporary Japan ?  What surprised or particularly interested you?  What elements of tradition that we have discussed in class appeared within the film's social frame?  How did they contribute to the unfolding plot?  How did what we have talked about in class and what you have read on your own contribute to your appreciation of the film you watched? 

Discuss your reaction to the film as a work of cinema and as a vehicle for gaining an appreciation of modern Japanese life.  What advantages / disadvantages are there to utilizing film as a means of gaining insight into another culture, particularly Japanese culture?  Be specific, using references to the film you saw for this assignment. 
  
You might find it helpful to consult Internet resources or the bibliographic listings found in the Kinema Club Database on Japanese films for additional information. Feel free to view and to include an analysis of more than one film in each essay.  

Only one such film essay will be accepted for course credit, so make your movie choice(s) with care!  A "satisfactory" essay (one earning a "check" or higher evaluation) will add ten points to your accumulated point total for the semester.  

CLASSIC MODERN JAPANESE FILMS:
SUGGESTED FILM TITLES
  
Clear any additions to the possibilities listed below with the instructor BEFORE viewing the film and writing your essay.

Akira Katsuhiro Otomo's now-classic anime (animated) film set in post-apocalyptic Tokyo. (1990)  

Dreams Eight vignettes, crafted and directed by Akira Kurosawa, with very stately pacing, about the encounters of different young men who wander into odd mystical circumstances. (Kurosawa Akira, 1990)  

The Family Game (Kazoku Gemu) A satirical look at the modern Japanese family, with the sarariiman (salaryman) father and emphasis on the children's education. In this case, the mother is weak - not the typical kyoiji mama (education mother) - so the father hires a tutor to discipline his youngest son. (Morita Yoshimitsu, 1983)  

The Funeral (O-soshiki) An outrageous and irreverent look at the formalized ritual process in Japanese society. When father dies, the bereaved young couple rent a 'how to' video so that the proper funeral protocol can be assured. The funeral stretches out as a series of farcical events. (Itami Juzo, 1984)  

Tampopo All about food in a series of comic episodes, many dealing with an attempt to open a restaurant selling Tokyo's best noodles. (Itami Juzo, 1986)  

A Taxing Woman and A Taxing Woman's Return A female internal revenue service official tracks down tax dodgers in contemporary Tokyo. (Itami Juzo)  

Minbo A comic look at organized crime in today's Japan; the director was attacked by disgruntled gangsters shortly after the film first opened. (Itami Juzo, 1994)