ryuganji: film news from japan

I was just cleaning out my RSS reader of all the links I hadn’t had time to post over the last couple of weeks when this article reminded me of this trailer I saw before “Riaru Oni Gokko” (review coming soon). It’s for Unifrance’s Festival du Film Francais au Japon, screening at Toho Cinema’s Roppongi Hills and Nanba locations from the 13th, is shot on location in Paris and features festival guest Sophie Marceau (who also directs) as well as a very special guest star from the clan MacLeod. The two are supposedly an item after working on “La Disparue de Deauville” (Trivial), which just so happens to be the festival’s opening film. This is what she’s saying in the trailer, according to the Japanese subs:

Do you like films?
I love them too.
Films are my life.
I made my debut in “La Boum” in 1980.
I was still just a little girl.
I travelled so much with this film,
as well as to Japan, where I was warmly welcomed.
That bond continues even today.
From then on, I’ve acted in many films.
This time I’m here to introduce “La Disparue de Deauville”.
It’s the opening film of this year’s Festival du Film Francais au Japon.
Several other films will also be screened.
Many directors and actors will be coming to Japan for it.
The festival will be held at Toho Cinemas from March 13th!
So, let’s enjoy March together!

If only other festivals had the dosh to blow on lavish promotions like Unifrance obviously do. Maybe TOKYO FILMeX should get Kitano and Terajima Susumu to film a promo in the dodgy end of Asakusa. The Asahi profiles the fest here.