6 standout films from the 2024 Tokyo International Film Festival

The 2024 Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) concluded on Wednesday after 10 days of screenings. A total of 208 movies were released this year, a slight decrease from the 2023 figure. Here are our top picks from the films we watched at the festival.

Paul Mescal stars as Lucius in Paramount Pictures’ Gladiator II.

Gladiator II

One of the highlights of Tokyo International Film Festival 2024 is undoubtedly the Asian Premiere Gladiator IIRidley Scott’s best movie in years. While it doesn’t quite live up to the original, it’s a visual feast. The story follows Lucius (Paul Mescal) – the son of Maximus (played by Russell Crowe in the first film) – who is killed in his homeland by Marcus Achilles He enters the Colosseum after it is overrun by the General’s (Pedro Pascal) soldiers.

While Mescal isn’t as memorable as Crowe’s performance from nearly a quarter-century ago, he’s every bit as good as Lucius and will likely be nominated for Best Actor at next year’s Academy Awards. Pascal may also be a contender for Best Supporting Actor. However, Denzel Washington is expected to win the award. He plays Macrinus, a former slave who plots to take control of Rome.

11 Rebels

The festival started in a fun and bloody way 11 rebels was chosen as the opening film. The drama is set during the Boshin War in 1868 and revolves around a ragtag group of samurai bandits who are captured from prison and tasked with defending a strategically important fortress against the Emperor’s forces. They are fighting for a chance to win their freedom, although in reality, it is a suicide mission.

The script was written in 1964 by Kazuo Kasahara, known for ” A battle without honor and humanity Movie series. Six years later, Toei decided to work with Kazuya Shiraishi to retrieve the script (timewolf blood) takes on directing duties, and Takayuki Yamada makes a lasting impression as the protagonist, Masa. It’s a film with very little character development, and the 2.5 hour running time feels longer than it needs to be, but it’s still a fun watch packed with action.

Taiji is coming

Winners of the 2024 Tokyo Grand Prix—the Tokyo International Film Festival’s top prize— Taiji is coming is a beautifully shot black-and-white drama that begins as a languid character study of Gisuke Watanabe, a retired French literature professor whose wife died several years ago. In the short time he had left, he lived a seemingly peaceful life, preparing meals carefully and calculating how long his savings would last.

The film, adapted from Tsutsui Yasutaka’s 1998 novel, takes a sinister turn when the protagonist receives a message on his computer screen telling him that an enemy is coming. Suddenly, the lines between reality and dreams become blurred as his wife refuses to remain a ghost. Gisuke is a charming character, brilliantly played by Kyouzo Nagatsuka, who deservedly won the festival’s Best Actor honor. Daihachi Yoshida was also named Best Director.

invisible sisters

A suspenseful family drama, invisible sisters It tells the story of two siblings who reunite after living in different countries for 17 years. Qiao Yan (played by Zhao Liying), the younger of the two, is now a highly sought-after but troubled movie star. Her unnamed pregnant sister (played by Xin Zhilei) has an even harder time, struggling to raise funds to rescue her kidnapped, debt-ridden husband.

The film takes a while to get going, but it’s worth hanging on as director Deren Zhao (often known as Midi Z) keeps the audience guessing as to what secrets the two sisters are hiding. Like Zhao Chao’s 2019 psychological drama, Nina Wua film led by strong female characters that men try to take advantage of. He also delves into the dark side of the entertainment industry and the social impact of China’s one-child policy.

Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958–1989

An extraordinary and thought-provoking documentary, Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958–1989 Provides valuable insights into the long-running conflicts in the Middle East that continue to this day. Director Göran Hugo Olsson spent five years creating describes it It was “the most painful film” he had ever made and “heartbreakingly timely.” More than three hours of archival footage, through reporting by Sweden’s national public television broadcaster, examines both sides of the divide over 31 years. SVT.

Although there is almost no editorial commentary, the documentary shows how the Swedish media landscape changed after the Six-Day War in June 1967 between Israel and the Arab League. Until then, coverage of Zionism was very positive and did not even mention Palestine or its citizens. The tone changed as the media became increasingly aware of the plight of the displaced Palestinian people.

chain reaction

A must for fans Texas Chainsaw MassacreAlexandre O. Philippe’s entertaining documentary explores the impact of Tobe Hooper’s classic horror film on five artists. Among them is the famous Japanese filmmaker Takashi Miike, who first watched the film when he was 15 years old. He had planned to watch a Charlie Chaplin movie city ​​lights that day, but it was full, so he chose Texas Chainsaw Massacre instead. This was a decision that would change his life.

Other interviewees in the documentary include acclaimed author Stephen King, director Karin Yayoi Kusama, film critic Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and actor Patton Oswalt (best known for her role in the sitcom (famous for playing spencer) king of queens. Each offered insightful analysis of Hooper’s horror masterpiece, which celebrated its 50th anniversary last month, and recounted their own personal memories of watching the film. Phillip’s documentary is a brilliant commentary on a film that has stood the test of time and made a huge impact.

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