Now Showing June 9

Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer (producer of the smash hit series ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’) in collaboration with Walt Disney Pictures, ‘Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time’, is an action packed fantasy adventure set in the mystical world of ancient Persia.

The plot follows Dastan, a young boy living on the streets in Persia, who is adopted by Sharaman, a rich and powerful king. Dastan becomes a prince of unparalleled wit and strength. The story begins when the king is fatally wounded and Dastan, one of three princes, is wrongly accused of the crime and becomes a fugitive on a quest to discover the truth and clear his own name. Key to this is princess Tamina, a member of a sacred group devoted to protecting the ‘sands of time’ and a forbidden dagger that contains sand that the bearer can use to turn back time. Dastan unwittingly obtains the dagger and before he can prove his innocence is set upon by a storm of ferocious and evil adversaries all bent on obtaining and using the dagger for their own nefarious purposes.

Set in the exotic world of ancient Persia and brimming with thrilling action scenes, conspiracy, romance and strife, it’s not hard to see the Disney influence that makes this a film that people of all ages will enjoy. In a complete turnaround from the type of roles he’s played in the past, Jake Gyllenhaal, who was nominated for an Academy Award in the category of Best Supporting Actor for his 2005 performance in ‘Brokeback Mountain’, plays Dastan. In addition to displaying a considerably buffed up physique for the role – Gyllenhaal also manages to perform many of his own stunts– thanks to a rigorous training program that included both a range of martial arts and parkour sessions.

A non-competitive sport that originated in France, parkour involves attempting to move quickly and efficiently as possible through an area by negotiating and often surmounting all manner of obstacles, such as walls, railings, stairwells and even buildings, using nothing but the human body. Starting with the French film ‘Yamakasi’ (2001), other famous movies where actors have made use of various parkour movements include: ‘The Bourne Ultimatum’ (2007), ‘Casino Royale’ (2006), ‘Die Hard 4.0’ (2007) and the Japanese film ‘K-20: Legend of the Mask’ (2008).

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

USA, 2010
Opened: May 28
Director: Mike Newell
Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Ben Kingsley, Gemma Arterton
Distributor: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Japan
Website: www.disney.co.jp/movies/persia-movie/

Railways

A touching story in which a middle aged man who, despite his regular family commitments, gives up his Tokyo day job and returns to his hometown to fulfil a childhood dream of becoming a train conductor.

Japan, 2009
Japanese title: 49-sai de Densha no Untenshi ni Natta Otoko no Monogatari
Opened: May 29
Director: Yoshikazu Nishikori
Cast: Kiichi Nakai, Reiko Takashima, Yuika Motokariya, Takahiro Miwa, Tomoko Nakaoka, Isao Hazushime, Shirou Sano, Yoshiko Miyazaki
Distributor: Matsutake Shochiku
Website: www.railways-movie.jp/

Le Père de Mes Enfants

The story of a grieving family who pull together in order to help each other overcome the sudden loss of their beloved father.

France, 2009
Japanese title: Ano Natsu no Kodomotachi
Opened: May 29
Director: Mia Hanson-Løve
Cast: Chiara Caselli, Louis-Do de Lencquesaing, Alice de Lencquesaing
Distributor: Crest International
Website: www.anonatsu.jp/

The Hero Show

Kazuyuki Izutsu once again picks up his megaphone to direct a film that centres on Japanese youth crime and packs even more punch than his award winning 2004 film ‘Pacchigi!’.

Japan, 2010
Opened: May 29
Director: Kazuyuki Izutzu
Cast: Junpei Goto, Shusuke Fukutoku, Chisun
Distributor: Kadokawa Pictures
Website: www.hero-show.jp/

Zatoichi: The Last

A film directed by Junji Sakamoto in which Shingo Katori plays Zatoichi, the blind swordsman who was most notably brought to life by the legendary Japanese actor Shintaro Katsu during the 60s and 70s. As the title suggests, the film is to be ‘the last’ chapter in the famous Zatoichi series.

Japan, 2010
Opened: May 29
Director: Junji Sakamoto
Cast: Shingo Katori, Takashi Sorimachi, Chieko Baisho, Sosuke Takaoka, Arata, Yuuki Kudo, Susumu Terajima, Kenzaburo Nakamura, Kosuke Toyohara, Zeebra
Distributor: Toho
Website: www.the-last-1.jp/