Message from jdavis2

[Anonymous]

Hello everyone, I am the invisible participant who is in the mountains of new Mexico trying to glean new ideas from fellow Asia-teachers-philes
A couple of films jumped into my mind as I read these postings. The access to them may be problematic, but we can pursue:
Princeton University had a wonderful week long "college" about 15 years ago where a "cinema verite" director had just completed two powerful and insightful pieces. One was "Full Moon Lunch" about a family who owned a "Bento restaurant which delivered all over Tokyp at lunch time. The photography and the tempo were terrific. The cooperation/conflicts and tension/comraderie among the brothers in the busy-ness (intended) was unusually openly presented.
The second film, "Farm Song" was shot on Hokkaido and the director lived with the three generational rural farming family, through the seasons out side and the generational dofferences inside. The treatment of the newest bride by the mother in law, was fascinatingly, politely unkind.
There is a third piece I use, put out by JETRO ( Japanese Educational, Trade something...) called"Katcho", about a suburban (sort of) Tokyo middle management father and his family and the workings not only of the inner office (from demotions to drinking enough to tell the boss of and get away with it) but also looked inside the absentee husband's family and home. It is short and timely. the old saying "RIch Japan, Poor Japanese" rings true in this film.
There is another called "Taxing Woman" which won several awards, and is, by Japanese humor standards funny and very much a statement about gender issues in Japan. Aanother about Ijime, or bullying is in my head but the title evades me...It is about Fireflies, and the one I like is not the animated version, but the other.
While not a family focused film, there is a terrific film called "Budo" whic the kids LOVE about the many different means of self defense developed depending on one's station from 1333- the Meiji.

I surely hope there is some kind soul in this course who is making his/her lecture and other notes available to Clay and Linda for photocopying, and am missing so much by being here.
Thank you and I 'll keep thinking.
Best, Jan Davis
University of San Diego High School