Now Showing June 16

This film’s original incarnation, a TV drama, became a hot topic among women after first going on the air in Japan. Set in New York, ‘Sex and the City’ takes a daring look at four women’s attitudes towards love, work and friendship. This is the second sequel to the first hit feature film, which hit screens in 2008.

Leading lady Sarah Jessica Parker, her three co-stars Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon and the film’s director, Michael Patrick King, were recently in Japan to promote the film. Though the television series started twelve years ago, this is the first time that the four women have visited Japan together. The press conference for the premiere of ‘Sex and the City 2’ was a huge success, with the over 500 media representatives who packed the venue having to stand wherever they could just to get a good view.

No doubt some of the appeal of Sex and the City is that it features some of the latest fashions, and with this film set in the Middle Eastern city of Abu Dhabi, the wardrobe is more glamorous than ever. When Sarah Jessica Parker, who reprises the role everyone’s favourite New York writer Carrie Bradshaw, was asked to name her favourite outfit from the film she named the outfit she wore in the Abu Dhabi market scene: a vintage t-shirt with ‘J’adore Dior’ blazoned across it, paired with a Zac Posen ballet skirt and the ever present Manolo Blahnik shoes, which were made especially for the film. Sex and the City’s stylist, Patricia Field, is a big fan of Japan. From season two to season four, she got ideas for the wardrobe from fashion magazines she had bought while visiting.

‘Sex and the City 2’ is set two years after the first film (in which after much upheaval Carrie finally ties the knot with Big). While in Carrie’s mind the ideal marriage has an undying passion, the reality of her marriage with Big is somewhat different. As for her friends, Charlotte is struggling to cope with raising her two daughters and Miranda is having a hard time at work due to problems with her boss. Enter Samantha who proposes they take a trip to Abu Dhabi to get away from it all. This stunning and exotic location becomes the sun-drenched backdrop to their exciting adventure.

Making a cameo appearance in the film is über-star and gay icon, Liza Minnelli. The cast is rounded out by Oscar winning actress Penélope Cruz, and America’s top teen idol Miley Cyrus. Although the film is set in Abu Dhabi (but was actually filmed in Morocco), it is unlikely it will be screened in the more conservative United Arab Emirates due to it being too daring. Just how far do these four ladies go? Watch and find out.

Sex and the City 2

USA, 2010
Opened: June 4
Director: Michael Patrick King
Cast: Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon, Chris Noth
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Website: wwws.warnerbros.co.jp/sexandthecity2/mainsite/

Brothers

A brother presumed dead at war returns to his family as a changed man and begins to question the relationship that has developed between his beloved wife and younger brother. Something has gone down between these brothers that were once very close. This hard-hitting drama is directed by a master of the big screen, Jim Sheridan, also a six-time Academy Award nominee. The cast includes a roster of Hollywood’s leading young actors, with Tobey Maguire, Jake Gyllenhaal and Natalie Portman taking the helm.

USA, 2010
Japanese title: My Brother
Opened: June 4
Director: Jim Sheridan
Cast: Tobey Maguire, Jake Gyllenhaal, Natalie Portman, Sam Shepard
Distributor: Gaga
Website: my-brother.gaga.ne.jp/

Kokuhaku

The daughter of Yuko Moriguchi, a junior high school teacher, is found drowned in pool at the school where she teaches. Jump to several months later, when Moriguchi makes the shocking claim to her homeroom that her daughter was killed by two students from the class. She then sets about seeking revenge. The film is based on a novel by the same name written by Kanae Minato, which received the Honya Taisho award. The director is Tetsuya Nakashima of ‘Kiraware Matsuko no Issho’ (Memories of Matsuko) fame.

Japan, 2010
Opened: June 5
Director, writer: Tetsuya Nakajima
Cast: Takako Matsu, Masaki Okada, Yoshino Kimura
Distributor: Toho
Website: kokuhaku-shimasu.jp/

Kokou no Mesu

It is 1989 and Tetsuhiko Toma has been appointed as a surgeon at a hospital rife with corruption. Toma is a top doctor, steadfast in his beliefs and performing one difficult operation after the other. Toma decides to carry out a liver transplant – something that is against the law – in order to save the life of one of his patients. The story for this powerful film was written by a doctor and tackles little-talked-about issues involving the Japanese medical system.

Japan, 2010
Opened: June 5
Director: Izuru Narushima
Cast: Shinichi Tsutsumi, Yui Natsukawa, Hisashi Yoshizawa, Noriko Nakagoshi, Yutaka Matsushige, Hiroki Narimiya, Kenichi Yajima, Mitsuru Hirata, Kimiko Yo, Katuhisa Namase, Akira Emoto
Distributor: Toei
Website: www.kokouno-mes.com/

Bright Star

Poet John Keats meets sagacious Fanny, the neighbour of a friend with whom he is staying, and the two are captivated by each other. Fanny provides much encouragement to Keats, who is experiencing writer’s block and is feeling shattered after some harsh criticism of his work. Eventually, Keats returns to form producing a stream of outstanding poetry. Their happiness, however, is short-lived. Bright Star is a biographical drama based on the short life of the now canonically revered John Keats, who died at the tender age of 25.

UK/Australia, 2009
Japanese title: Bright Star - Ichiban utsukushii ai no uta
Opened: June 5
Director: Jane Campion
Cast: Ben Wishaw, Abbie Cornish, Paul Schneider, Kerry Fox
Distributor: Face to Face
Website: brightstar-movie.jp/