'When I heard that I'd been invited to the Far East Film Festival in Udine and that I would be receiving an award for all the work I've done in the world of cinema, I said to myself: “Really? What a nice surprise!”. I'm very happy that my work as an actress is also appreciated abroad: films are a wonderful thing. I sincerely thank all the FEFF staff and, of course, I promise that I will continue to act with passion and dedication...'
On Wednesday the 26th of April at 7.30 pm, Baisho Chieko will take the stage of FEFF 25 to receive the Golden Mulberry Award for Lifetime Achievement (which was taken home last year by Takeshi Kitano). The famous Japanese actress and singer will be accompanying to Udine her most recent film, Hayakawa Chie's Plan 75, as well as two films that she has personally chosen for the Fareast's audiences: the very first Tora-san and Where Spring Comes Late.
Presented at the 75th Cannes Film Festival (Caméra d'Or special mention) and at the 40th Turin Film Festival, Plan 75 is the powerful debut feature of director Hayakawa Chie and will be released in Italian cinemas on the 11th of May under the banner of Tucker Film. It's the story of a government programme - Plan 75 which aims to stem a national emergency: the ageing population. On the one hand, the public costs of welfare, and on the other, the possibility for the elderly to resort to state euthanasia. Living or dying is no longer an ethical dilemma: it's just a question of bureaucracy. All you need is to be over 75... And let's remember that Hayakawa Chie discussed the Plan 75 project at the Far East Film Festival all the way back in 2019, during the industry sessions of Focus Asia.
Baisho Chieko, who plays the sweet character of Michi, is immensely famous for her role as Sakura in the dozens of Tora-san films released between 1969 and 1995: cult favourites that were the product of her long artistic partnership with director Yamada Yoji. In 1980 she was awarded Best Actress at the Hōchi Film Awards for Haruka naru yama no yobigoe (A Distant Cry of Spring), also directed by Yamada Yoji. She is very active as a voice actress too, often lending her tones to the world of animation, where she can be heard in Gundam, Kimba the White Lion and Howl's Moving Castle.
All the sixth day, minute by minute!
TEATRO NUOVO
09.00
PRESS REVIEW
News from Asia with Giulia Pompili (Il Foglio) and Francesco Radicioni (Radio Radicale).
09.00
UNTOLD HERSTORY
Directed by Zero CHOU
(Taiwan, 2022)
The story of a group of women who, during the White Terror, are confined to a penal colony off the east coast of Taiwan.
11.00
INCONTRI/TALKS
Two talks this morning: one dedicated to the new Japanese cinema and the other to the new Japanese independent cinema.
11.05
PHASES OF THE MOON
Directed by HIROKI Ryuichi
(Japan, 2022)
Hiroki Ryuichi invites us on a space-time journey along the path of reincarnation into the life of Osanai Kei.
15.00
DELETER
Directed by Mikhail RED
(Philippines, 2022)
We live and die on social media. And perhaps our ghosts even stay online after we're dead...
16.50
EGOIST
Directed by MATSUNAGA Daishi
(Japan, 2022)
From Makoto Takayama's autobiographical novel, a bittersweet portrait overflowing with warmth and energy.
17.45
BAMBÙ TALKS
Dangerous borders: the Hottest Spots in Asia. Curated and presented by Giulia Pompili and Francesco Radicioni.
19.30
PLAN 75
Directed by HAYAKAWA Chie
(Japan, 2023)
Japan, tomorrow. A government programme, Plan 75, aims to stem a national emergency: the ageing population. On the one hand, the public costs of welfare. On the other, the possibility for the elderly to resort to state euthanasia. Living or dying is no longer an ethical dilemma: it's just a question of bureaucracy. All you need is to be over 75...
21.40
THE OTHER CHILD
Directed by KIM Jin-young
(South Korea, 2022)
Isaac is adopted by a fervent Christian family, one of whose sons, Han-byul, drowned in a lake. But the other siblings, and especially the older sister, see Isaac as an unwelcome addition to the family...
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VISIONARIO
14.00
BLOODY MORNING
Directed by LI Shaohong
(China, 1992/Restored: 2023)
16.00
OFFICE
Directed by Johnnie TO
(Hong Kong, 2015)
18.10
TRIO
Directed by PARK Chan-wook
(South Korea, 1997)