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February 5, 2015
MOVIE | Nordic films gather in Shibuya for the Tokyo Nordic Lights Festival 2015
MOVIE│New and Old Films from Five Nordic Countries Converge
Tokyo Nordic Lights Festival Opens Again This Year
The "Tokyo Nordic Lights Festival 2015," where Nordic films gather in Shibuya, opens again this year. From Saturday, January 31st to Friday, February 13th, 17 carefully selected masterpieces, both new and old, from five Nordic countries will be screened.
Text by YANAKA Tomomi
Plenty of Events Beyond Film, Including Live Performances
Nordic films are gaining popularity in Japan in recent years. At the "Tokyo Nordic Lights Festival 2015," now in its fifth year, you can see acclaimed works and new films by emerging directors active in the Nordic region.
This year's special focus is on director Andreas Ehnmark, the "young talent from Sweden" who garnered attention for his 2010 film, a heartwarming comedy about a boy with Asperger's syndrome, 『Simple Simon』. In addition to "Simple Simon (dubbed version, with audio description and guide subtitles)," his latest works, "Remake" (2014) and "Bitch Hug" (2012), will have their Japan premieres.
『Simple Simon』
『Bitch Hug』
The festival also shines a spotlight on Joachim Trier, nephew of the master director Lars von Trier and a Norwegian prodigy already highly acclaimed internationally. Alongside "Reprise" (2006), which will have its Japan premiere, "Oslo, August 31st" (2011) will also be shown. The lineup features a total of 17 films, including a special section on Nordic mysteries, which are currently popular worldwide, as well as dramas, animations, and films being screened in Japan for the first time.
There are also plenty of events beyond film. On Sunday, February 8th, the avant-garde Norwegian band "In the Country," known for their pursuit of free music aiming for "jazz that isn't jazz," will perform a rare jazz live event, providing a musical accompaniment to the lost silent film "The Earth Dies Screaming" from 1921.
『Reprise』
『Oslo, August 31st』
Furthermore, on Monday, February 23rd, there will be a performance by Norwegian percussionist Terje Isungset, who uses natural materials, during his visit to Japan. Throughout the festival, Nordic food fairs will also be held at cafes and restaurants around Shibuya.
Nordic style, from interiors and fashion to literature, commands immense support in Japan. Nordic films, which have consistently produced captivating works, seem poised to capture the hearts of Japanese audiences once again.
Tokyo Nordic Lights Festival 2015
Dates: Saturday, January 31st – Friday, February 13th
Venue: Eurospace
1-5 Maruyama-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Tel. 03-3461-0211
Venue: Uplink
37-18 Udagawa-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Tel. 03-6825-5503
Tickets: Same-day single ticket ¥1500 (¥1200 for students, seniors, and Eurospace members), Same-day 3-ticket pass ¥3900
http://www.tnlf.jp/