Kontribusyon ni Koji Yakusho sa Japanese film industry kikilalanin sa Tokyo Film Fest

Ni Florenda Corpuz

Kuha mula sa TIFF 2018

Inanunsyo ng Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) ang pagkakapili sa legendary Japanese actor na si Koji Yakusho bilang “Actor in Focus” sa Japan Now section ng kanilang 31^st edition.

Magsasagawa ang TIFF ng retrospective ng kanyang mga pinagbidahang pelikula mula sa mga classic films hanggang sa pinakabagong masterpiece na nagpapakita ng kanyang hindi matatawarang kontribusyon sa Japanese film industry pati na rin sa mga foreign co-productions.

“Koji Yakusho is Japan’s leading international actor, demonstrating unparalleled versatility in wide-ranging roles across every genre. In one film, he plays the enigmatic defendant in a murder case, changing his story at whim as if he’s a god; in another, he portrays a cop investigating a series of gruesome murders, gradually becoming a monster himself. He has indelibly played dozens of characters, and imbued them with humanism and inimitable imagination. In a romantic comedy, he portrayed a lonely salaryman who becomes obsessed with ballroom dance; in several historical epics, he has portrayed spirited samurai characters.

“His work has been internationally recognized, with accolades and nominations in Japan and overseas, including at Cannes. We are pleased to present a selection of Yakusho’s finest roles,” saad ni Kohei Ando, TIFF Programming Advisor.

Sa mahigit 40 taong karera ni Yakusho, maraming parangal na ang kanyang natanggap mula sa iba’t ibang international film festivals: “Cure” (1997) mula sa TIFF, “Warm Water Under the Red Bridge” (2001) mula sa Chicago International Film Festival, “Walking My Life” (2007) sa Film Madrid, “The Woodsman and the Rain” (2011) sa Dubai International Film Festival at “The World of Kanako” (2014) sa Sitges Film Festival.

Bumida rin siya sa ilang award-winning films: “The Eel” (1997) na nanalo ng Palme d’Or, “Eureka” (2001) na nakatanggap ng Cannes Ecumenical Jury Prize at “Babel” (2006) na nominado ng Academy Award para sa Best Foreign Language Film.

“It has been 40 years since I first developed an interest in acting. For someone who has not been able to stick to a single thing since childhood, it’s a miracle that I’ve been able to pursue this profession for four decades. Our profession is a strange one — no matter how many times you fail and make a fool of yourself, you find yourself thinking, ‘Next time, I just might get it right…’ Perhaps that is the poison we all fall victim to. I am very honored to have my work featured in the Tokyo International Film Festival. I am also indebted to all the people who have inspired me

throughout my life,” komento ni Yakusho.

Gaganapin ang 31^st TIFF mula Oktubre 25 hanggang Nobyembre 3.