Now Showing May 19

Tim Burton is currently enjoying incredible success with his film ‘Alice in Wonderland’. Yet this famous director, who has such a unique and distinctive style himself, was completely bowled over by a short film that runs for a mere 11 minutes. That film was ‘9’, which was nominated in the Animated Short Film category at the 2005 Academy Awards. A dark fantasy, the film is set in a post-apocalyptic world where the human race has become extinct. The story revolves around nine doll-like creations, each numbered on their backs one to nine, who battle against the weapons of destruction that the humans have left behind.

The film opens with a peculiar-looking doll awakening in a secluded corner of an old laboratory. His body is made of burlap, on his stomach is a large zip, and written on his back is the number ‘9.’ Wondering about his identity, the doll leaves the laboratory, but outside all he finds are devastated ruins. At that moment a tattered looking doll with the number two on his back appears. As 2 is explaining that he is the same as 9, a giant mechanical beast suddenly attacks the pair and captures him. Subsequently 9 meets others who have numbers like him and seeks out where the machine lives in order to save 2. Why did the humans die out? Why were the nine dolls created? Amidst the ensuing conflicts, the answers to these puzzles come to light, and an apocalypse like no other unfolds.

First-time director Shane Acker made the original short film as his UCLA graduation project. When Burton saw it, the unique world Acker had created impressed him, being so charmed by the realisation of the characters, he decided instantly to make a full-length animated film. He went on to back all aspects of its creation in the role of producer. Elijah Wood plays the main character of 9, and with other well-known actors like John C. Reilly and Jennifer Connelly lending their voices to the film, the cast has also garnered a certain amount of media attention. The film also pulls at the heart-strings with its use of music – particularly the popular classic ‘Over the Rainbow’, which seems to harmonize perfectly with the feelings of the nine dolls who are struggling to find out the reason for their own existence.

9

USA, 2009
Japanese title: 9 Kyubanme no kimyona ningyo
Opened: May 8
Director: Shane Acker
Cast: Elijah Wood, Jennifer Connelly, John C. Reilly, Christopher Plummer, Crispin Glover, Martin Landau, Fred Tatasciore
Distributor: Gaga
Website: 9.gaga.ne.jp/

The Box

This is the story of a couple faced with a terrible choice: they can receive a million dollars for merely pressing a button, but if they do, someone, somewhere will die.

USA, 2009
Japanese title: Unmei no botan
Opened: May 8
Director, producer, writer: Richard Kelly
Cast: Cameron Diaz, James Marsden, Frank Langella, James Rebhorn, Holmes Osborne
Distributor: Showgate
Website: www.unmeino.jp/pc.html

TRICK 3

This is the third feature film based on the popular mystery television serial ‘Trick’. Self-proclaimed top magician Yamada, and genius physicist Ueda, solve the mysteries surrounding supernatural events.

Japan, 2010
Japanese title: Gekijoyoban Trick: Reinouryoukusha Battle Royale
Opened: May 8
Director: Yukihiko Tsutsumi
Cast: Yukie Nakama, Hiroshi Abe, Katsuhisa Namase, Youko Nogiwa, Ken Matsudaira, Takeru Satou, Kaho, Naohito Fujiki, Keiko Toda, Nana Katase
Distributor: Toho
Website: www.yamada-ueda.com/

Kicking It

This is a documentary about the Homeless World Cup, an international tournament with teams from nations all over the world, all of which are composed of players who are homeless. The film documents the Cup, and each team’s passionate fight to be the world number one.

USA, 2008
Japanese title: Homeless World Cup
Opened: May 8
Director, writer: Susan Koch
Cast: Colin Farrell (Narrator), Najib, Alex, Damien, Simon, Craig
Distributor: E-Net Frontier
Website: enet-dvd.com/enet/kickingit/