Program

This year's regular summer screenings, entitled The Pleasures of Odd, Fantasy and Illusionistic Films, will include the German national film Nibelungen, one of the most problematic films in the history of science fiction cinema, Zardoz, the madcap sexual suspense Benedetta, the dark Eastern European love story November and the bizarre Charlie Bowers film collection from the late silent era.

Programme A (Sat 19 Aug, 10:00 - / Sun 20 Aug, 15:00 -)

(1) Zardoz
1974 / 106 min / USA, UK, Ireland / Colour / DCP *PG12
Writer/Producer/Director: John Boorman
Cast: Sean Connery, Charlotte Rampling, Sailor Kesterman, John Alderton

In 2239 AD, humanity has achieved a society of immortality. The privileged class of 'Eternals' lived in an invisible dome, isolated from the outside world. They erected a giant flying god statue, Zardos, and controlled the 'Eradication Warriors' to slaughter the 'Beastmen' who inhabited the devastated outer world. The leader of the 'Eradication Warriors', Zedd, hides himself in Zardos and invades the dome...
One of the most problematic films in the history of sci-fi cinema, steeped in an erotic and original vision that was said to have been completely unappreciated at the time of its release.

Sat 19 Aug, 10:00-11:46
Sun 20 Aug, 15:00-16:46

(2) BENEDETTA　*R18+
2021 / 131 min / France, Netherlands / Colour / DCP
Director: Paul Verhoeven / Script: David Burke, Paul Verhoeven / Original idea: Judith C. Brown, Renaissance Nuns' Tales - Microstoria of the Holy and Sexual
Cast: Virginie Effira, Daphne Patakia, Charlotte Rampling, Lambert Wilson.

The film depicts the bizarre fate of Benedetta, a homosexual nun who existed in the 17th century. Benedetta performs many 'miracles' and rises to the position of abbess. However, she was involved in a homosexual relationship with another nun. The plague epidemic also leads her to a papal inquisition...
The latest film from director Paul Verhoeven, who has made a number of controversial films during his time in the Netherlands and in Hollywood. A shocking, violent and sexually charged portrayal of Benedetta, who uses her talents, illusions, madness, lies and creativity to gain real power.

Sat 19 Aug, 12:00-14:11
Sun 20 Aug, 17:00-19:11

Programme B (Sat 19 Aug, 15:00-)

DIE NIBELUNGEN　
Part 1: Siegfried SIEGFRIEDS TOD　
Part 2: KRIEMHILDS RACHE, Kriemhild's Revenge
1923 / 276 min / Germany / B&W / Silent with music / Blu-ray
Director: Fritz Lang Screenplay: Thea von Harbou, Fritz Lang
Cast: Paul Richter, Margarete Schön, Rudolf Klein-Logge, Rudolf Leitner

The first major feature-length historical picture book, a national film made to inspire the national spirit of Germany after its defeat in World War I. The Song of the Nibelungen, which inspired the film, is a heroic epic written in the 13th century, based on the great migration of the Germanic tribes.
In the first part, 'Siegfried', Siegfried, prince of the Netherlanders, slays a dragon and becomes immortal by bathing in its blood, but a leaf falls on his back and that part becomes a vital wound. Siegfried marries Kriemhild, a princess of the Kingdom of Burgund, but the king's confidant Hagen finds out about the kryptonite and kills him.
In the second part, 'Kriemhild's Revenge', Kriemhild remarries the Hun king Achla, vows revenge and invites the people of Burgund to Achla's palace.
The stylistic and figurative beauty of the huge set overwhelms the viewer in this spectacular masterpiece, one of the greatest silent films of all time. A magnificent and thrilling tale of tumultuous adventure and love-hate drama.

Sat 19 Aug, 15:00-19:56
15:00-17:28 'Nibelungen Part 1: Siegfried'
　-20 mins intermission-
17:48-19:56 'Nibelungen Part 2: Kriemhild's Revenge'

Programme C (Sunday 20 August, 10:00 -)

(1) "NOBODY KNOWS Charley Bowers' Invention Addiction" Charley Bowers
6 films / 106 mins / USA / B&W / Silent, with music / Blu-ray
Director, Cast: Charley Bowers
*The film will be screened with newly recorded accompaniment music for the Japan screening. Accompaniment music: Shioya Band + Solla Short animation accompaniment music: OTOWA-UNIT

EGGED ON / 1926 / 23 mins.
HE DONE HIS BEST / 1926 / 23 mins.
NOW YOU TELL ONE / 1926 / 21 mins.
THERE IT IS / 1928 / 22 mins.
THE EXTRA-QUICK LUNCH / 1918 / 6 mins.
A.W.O.L or ALL WRONG OLD LADDIEBUCK / 1918 / 6 mins.

Modern, punk, surrealistic and crazy Charlie Bowers' films, spawned at the end of the silent era nearly 100 years ago. In addition to the bizarre visual worlds created by the fusion of detailed stop-motion animation and live action, the melancholy of Buster Keaton, the king of comedy, and a madness that surpasses Keaton's, will surprise you, make you laugh and sometimes even scare you like a horror film.
The world of Charlie Bowers, suddenly resurrected after a hundred years, is a sight for sore eyes.

Sun 20 Aug, 10:00-11:46

(2) November
2017 / 115 min / Poland, Netherlands, Estonia / B&W / DCP
Director/Screenplay / Rainer Sarnet
Cast: Leah Rest, Jørgen Leek, Dieter Larser

A dark love story set in Eastern Europe in a cold Estonian village where the Day of the Dead is celebrated in November. Lina, a farmer's daughter, has feelings for a young man, Hans. Hans, on the other hand, falls in love with the mysterious daughter of his lord, a German baron, and makes a pact with the devil...
From the beginning of the film, we are drawn into the mythical world at once with the appearance of the 'krat', an oddly shaped monstrous creature made of farm implements and other objects from Estonian mythology. The film is a masterpiece of bizarre fantasy, with stories of the dead coming back to life, demons appearing at crossroads, a girl transforming in the moonlit night, etc., coloured with folklore, gothic, romance and melancholy, and surrealistically depicted with beautiful black-and-white cinematography.

Sun 20 Aug, 12:00-13:55