Japanese Film Series (November 20): Your Name / 君の名は。(2016)

Your Name / 君の名は。(2016)

Directed by: Makoto Shinkai

Run Time: 106 minutes

From director Makoto Shinkai, the innovative mind behind Voices of a Distant Star and 5 Centimeters Per Second, comes a beautiful masterpiece about time, the thread of fate, and the hearts of two young souls.

The day the stars fell, two lives changed forever. High schoolers Mitsuha and Taki are complete strangers living separate lives. But one night, they suddenly switch places. Mitsuha wakes up in Taki’s body, and he in hers. This bizarre occurrence continues to happen randomly, and the two must adjust their lives around each other. Yet, somehow, it works. They build a connection and communicate by leaving notes, messages, and more importantly, an imprint.

When a dazzling comet lights up the night’s sky, it dawns on them. They want something more from this connection—a chance to meet, an opportunity to truly know each other. Tugging at the string of fate, they try to find a way to each other. But distance isn’t the only thing keeping them apart. Is their bond strong enough to face the cruel irony of time? Or is their meeting nothing more than a wish upon the stars?

Location and time: Weiss 235 (free admission)

Date and time: Monday, November 20. 7-9 pm

Japanese Film Series (October 30): Sway / ゆれる (2006)

Sway / ゆれる (2006)

Directed by: Miwa Nishikawa

Run time: 112 minutes

On the anniversary of the death of the mother of a hip and happening Tokyo-based photographer, the son returns to his hometown for the funeral. What follows is a return to the past that is more than just a trek home. Old relationships, love, conflicts and memories resurface and collide. Apparently, old perspectives don’t wither.

Location and time: Weiss 235 (free admission)

Date and time: Monday, October 30. 7-9 pm