Japanese Film Festival, Roxy Cinema

8- 10 November 2019

The Roxy Cinema





The Japanese Film Festival is held annually all across New Zealand in order to encourage the growing interest and understanding of Japanese Culture. Each year, we try to give the people of New Zealand a different taste and insight into Japanese culture, customs, and traditions—along with a look at what’s popular with Japan’s society today—all via the medium of film. Don’t miss out on this chance to see award-winning Japanese films up on the big screen, all for free!

All films will be screened in Japanese with English subtitles





Friday 8 November, 6:30pm

Born Bone Born - Senkotsu (literally “Bone-washing”), is a tradition that is almost extinct. The eldest son of the Shinjo family, Tsuyoshi, returns to his hometown to wash the bones of his mother. His father’s life is in a mess due to his inability to accept his wife's death. Also returning home is eldest daughter Yuko, also facing various hardships in life herself. Will the senkotsu ceremony help the family members unite?





Saturday 9 November, 12:00pm

Room Laundering - Miko is a “room launderer”, someone paid to live in a rental unit where the previous tenant has died of unnatural causes until the manager is no longer legally required to inform future tenants of the death. It’s the perfect job for antisocial Miko. Her problem however is that she can see and talk to the dead. Although Miko has no idea why she has this ability, nor any inclination to use it, spirits come to rely on her.





Saturday 9 November, 2:30pm

Recall - Tokuro Akamatsu can’t believe it when a vehicle of his freight company causes a fatal accident. Faulty maintenance is suspected, but he requests that its manufacturer, Hope Motors, carry out new tests. Yuta Sawada from Hope Motors is initially dismissive of Akamatsu’s demands, until his colleagues’ secretive behavior arouses his curiosity.





Saturday 9 November, 5:00pm

The Crimes that Bind - A woman is found strangled to death in an apartment whose tenant is missing. Detective Matsumiya has a hunch that a charred corpse found nearby the murder scene may have some relevance to the case, and subsequently discovers an item with the names of Nihonbashi’s 12 bridges written on it. When Kyoichiro Kaga learns of this, he is deeply shaken.





Sunday 10 November, 12:00pm

Lu Over the Wall - Middle school student Kai ends up in a declining fishing town as a result of his parents' divorce. One day, he’s invited by a classmate to join their band. Kai reluctantly goes to the practice site on Mermaid Island where he meets Lu, a young mermaid. This tale of the encounter and separation of a young boy and a young mermaid is composed of careful depictions of life rendered through animation bursting with briskness and energy.





Sunday 10 November, 2:30pm

The 8-Year Engagement - Based on a true story, Hisashi and Mai are an engaged couple who couldn’t be happier. Three months before their wedding Mai suddenly falls into a deep coma. Mai’s parents encourage Hisashi to find someone else, but he refuses to give up and stays by her side. Mai slowly regains consciousness, but tragically has suffered brain damage leaving her no memory of Hisashi. He’s devastated, but continues to visit Mai every day. Eight years later, a miracle occurs.









Ticket prices for Japanese Film Festival:





Free Admission

$1.51 Booking Fee applies to online, phone & in house sales