East Asian film series continues with 'Departures'Oct. 4, 2010 KALAMAZOO--Western Michigan University continues its East Asian film series Thursday, Oct. 7, with a free, public screening of "Departures" at 7 p.m. in Room 2008 of the Richmond Center for Visual Arts. Starring Masahiro Motoki and Ryoko Hirosue, "Departures" is about a cellist who finds himself unemployed after his orchestra dissolves. He takes his family back to his hometown, where he finds work preparing the deceased for funerals. Over time, he finds pride in his work, despite his family's distaste for his new profession. Directed by Yojiro Takita, the 2008 film won an Oscar and 32 other film awards. Other films in the "Celebrate East Asia" film series All films in the series are open to the public free of charge and begin at 7 p.m. in Room 2008 of the Richmond Center for Visual Arts. Thursday, Oct. 14--"The Professor and his Beloved Equation," starring Akira Terao and Eri Fukatsu, is about the relationship between a brain-damaged professor and a single mother. Written and directed by Takashi Koizumi, the 2006 film won two film awards--one for best director and one for best film score. It was nominated for the Award of the Japanese Academy for Best Actor. Tuesday, Oct. 19--"Raise the Red Lantern," starring Gong Li, is set in China in the 1920s. After the death of her father, a young woman is forced to marry a wealthy--and much older--man who already has three wives, each of them living in separate houses within the great estate. The competition between the wives is tough, as their husband's attention carries power. Directed by Zhang Yimou, the 1991 film was nominated for one Oscar and won 14 other film awards. The "Celebrate East Asia" film series is organized by WMU's Department of Comparative Religion, Soga Japan Center, and Light Center for Chinese Studies, in partnership with the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts. Media contact: Tonya Durlach, (269) 387-8400, tonya.durlach@wmich.edu WMU News |