'River of Fireflies' film screening at The Japan Foundation, 5A Ring Road, Lajpat Nagar IV > 2pm to 3:55pm on 26th July 2014

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Time : 2:00 pm - 3:55 pm Add to Calendar 26-07-2014 14:00:00 26-07-2014 15:55:00 68 'River of Fireflies' film screening Event Page : http://goo.gl/PG5mOu The Japan Foundation, 5A Ring Road, Lajpat Nagar IV, New Delhi - 110024 DD/MM/YYYY

Entry : Free (Seating on First-Come First-Served Basis)

Venue : The Japan Foundation, 5A Ring Road, Lajpat Nagar IV, New Delhi - 110024

Venue Info : About | Map | Events | Nearest Metro Station - 'Moolchand(Violet Line)'

Event Description : 'River of Fireflies' film screening.

Synopsis : 
During the winter of 1962 in Japan’s northern HOKURIKU District, a fourteen year old junior
high school boy named TATSUO gets into a brawl with his schoolmate ICHIRO over EIKO, a girl every boy in class loves. Even though busy preparing for high school entrance exams, TATSUO spends his days thinking about his dream girl. To further exacerbate his problems, creditors descend upon Tatsuo's house; His father SHIGETATSU, once a prosperous merchant, failed in business and his family now lives in poverty. Despite their austerity, though, his wife CHIYO puts up a cheerful front to encourage her husband and son. In truth, she and SHIGETATSU had an illicit relationship, and when she got pregnant SHIGETATSU wanted her and the child so much that he forcibly divorced his wife HARUE. On a snowy day in April TATSUO and EIKO stroll together, repressing their burning desire for one another. EIKO remembers what her father said seven years earlier; if heavy snow falls in April, a huge swarm of fireflies will appear at the upper reaches of the river which flows through town, and any man and woman who chance to witness the scene together must eventually marry. TATSUO asks his neighbor GINZO to take him to the river to see the fireflies when spring comes. TATSUO's father suffers a stroke, which plunges the family even deeper into debt. With that additional burden to his love for EIKO, TATSUO finds himself stepping into the world of adults, and its tragedies. ,; Spring arrives in the north, but it robs TATSUO of the two people closest to him: his father and KEITA, a friend who kills himself because his family opposed his attending high school. SHIGETATSU’s ex-wife HARUE, now a prosperous inn proprietress, comes to pray, for the repose of her former spouse's soul. She tells CHIYO that her grudge against him is gone and invites TATSUO to visit her inn whenever he chooses. One night, GINZO escorts TATSUO, his mother and EIKO to the upper reaches of the river to see the legendary fireflies. Searching for the huge swarm, which no one has actually seen, they keep walking, each entertaining a different wish for the future. They agree to take another 1,500 steps, and that if they cannot find the swarm they will give up and turn back. The four press on, and finally their hope is rewarded when the magnificent swarm appears, glittering in the air, as if a beautiful illusion.

Directed by : Sugawa Eizo

Year : 1987

Theme of the Month : “Life in Post – War Japan through the eyes of a child”

Related Events : Movies