JFLA provides high quality Japanese film screening every second and fourth Wednesday, 7:00pm at JFLA Auditorium (5700 Wilshire Blvd, #100, Los Angeles, CA 90036)
Free to attend. Reservation is not required.
Street Parking is available.
Beautiful Romance with Multilayered Sense of Cynical Amusement
A Bride for Rip Van Winkle (179mins, 2016)
Directed by Shunji Iwai
©RVW Film Partners
Nanami(Hana Kuroki) is an apathetic, part-time junior high school teacher, whose only solace comes from connecting with others on “Planet,” a new social network service. One day, a young man named Tetsuya messages her and asks to meet in person. The two begin dating and quickly become engaged. When Tetsuya begs Nanami to increase her guest list for the wedding, Nanami reaches out to online-friend, Amuro(Go Ayano), a self-proclaimed jack-of-all-trades, who hires actors to play Nanami’s guests on her big day. A few weeks following the ceremony, Tetsuya’s mother confronts Nanami with allegations of lying and cheating. Heartbroken and despondent, Nanami checks herself into a hotel and manages to get hired there as a maid. One day, Amuro offers Nanami a house-keeping job in an old mansion, whose sole resident’s infectious spirit helps Nanami to open her heart. However, Nanami soon realizes that Amuro, the mansion, and its occupant aren’t what they seem – and even dreams have limits.
*In Japanese with English subtitles
You could win a director Iwai's autographed poster!