This article is part of NUFEC's ongoing coverage of the Independent Film Festival Boston 2015.
Made in Japan
When most people think of country music, they generally don’t associate it with Japan. Although Japan has absorbed and assimilated many forms of Western music, from rock to metal and the infamous J-pop, country music never gained much of a foothold in the land of samurai and anime. But there’s always an exception that makes the rule, and in this case it’s a woman named Tomi Fujiyama. While growing up in post-war Japan, Tomi gained a taste for country music after hearing it on American army bases. Quickly becoming one of the stars of the (admittedly small) Japanese country circuit, she eventually moved to the United States in search of a bigger audience and more opportunities for her music. Her dream came true on the night of November 9, 1964, when she played for a national audience on the Grand Ole Opry, the most prestigious venue in country music. She received a twenty minute standing ovation, something that even Johnny Cash (who also performed that night) could not claim.
Directed by John Bishop, Made in Japan is probably one of the most unlikely stories of either Japan or country music I’ve ever seen. The documentary charts both Tomi’s history in the music industry and her contemporary quest: to play on the Grand Ole Opry one last time. The documentary manages to be charming, humorous, and occasionally touching all at once; Tomi Fujiyama is a fascinating person, with the drive of youth and the warmth of a grandmother at the same time. She is a great musician, with a well-honed skill at the guitar and a beautiful voice, whether singing in English or Japanese. The film features numerous performances by Fujiyama, both original recordings from her youth and more contemporary fare; even though she’s 75 years old she still performs frequently. Between the fascinating and unique story and the magnetism of Tomi herself, Made in Japan is a must-see for anyone interested in country music, Japan, or a totally unexpected story.
Grade: B+
Directed by John Bishop, Made in Japan is probably one of the most unlikely stories of either Japan or country music I’ve ever seen. The documentary charts both Tomi’s history in the music industry and her contemporary quest: to play on the Grand Ole Opry one last time. The documentary manages to be charming, humorous, and occasionally touching all at once; Tomi Fujiyama is a fascinating person, with the drive of youth and the warmth of a grandmother at the same time. She is a great musician, with a well-honed skill at the guitar and a beautiful voice, whether singing in English or Japanese. The film features numerous performances by Fujiyama, both original recordings from her youth and more contemporary fare; even though she’s 75 years old she still performs frequently. Between the fascinating and unique story and the magnetism of Tomi herself, Made in Japan is a must-see for anyone interested in country music, Japan, or a totally unexpected story.
Grade: B+
Future Shock! The Story of 2000 AD
I very openly consider myself a geek. I love videogames, anime, and movies (obviously). However, I do not consider myself a comic book geek. I didn’t grow up reading about the heroic tales Superman or The Avengers. I didn’t read any comic books until I was in high school, and even today my experience with comics is limited and decisively non-standard: Alan Moore’s V for Vendetta and Watchmen and Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman. However, both of those writers worked somewhere else before they wrote the stories that are so near and dear to my heart: a British anthology comic called 2000 AD. Featuring tales of the near and the far future, the title’s mix of classic science-fiction, brutally graphic violence and biting social commentary, 2000 AD was an instant hit among British comics fans when it was first published in 1977. Over its long history it has featured stories from nearly every famous British comics author, from the aforementioned Alan Moore and Neil Gaiman to Garth Ennis (Preacher), Grant Morrison (Doom Patrol), and Mark Millar (Kick-Ass). It was the home of some of the most well-known stories of science-fiction comics, from Moore’s abortive Halo Jones, to the phenomenally popular Judge Dredd.
Created by Paul Goodwin, Future Shock! charts the history of 2000 AD from its inception on the heels of the post-Star Wars science craze to its stagnation in the 1990s following the departure of many of their best writers to their recent revival. It features interviews with a huge number of the writers and artists who have worked for the title over the decades, but the film as a whole is anchored by the original creator of 2000 AD, Pat Mills. Many of these creators, particularly Mills himself, have very strong personalities, refuse to censure themselves, and don’t like each other very much. Goodwin does a very good job of showing a balanced view of 2000 AD, of both its good parts such as the camaraderie between the founding members, and the less-proud aspects of its history, such as many of the stories that were run in the 1990s. Overall, Future Shock! is a fascinating and entertaining story about a realm of geek culture I knew next to nothing about.
Grade: B+
Created by Paul Goodwin, Future Shock! charts the history of 2000 AD from its inception on the heels of the post-Star Wars science craze to its stagnation in the 1990s following the departure of many of their best writers to their recent revival. It features interviews with a huge number of the writers and artists who have worked for the title over the decades, but the film as a whole is anchored by the original creator of 2000 AD, Pat Mills. Many of these creators, particularly Mills himself, have very strong personalities, refuse to censure themselves, and don’t like each other very much. Goodwin does a very good job of showing a balanced view of 2000 AD, of both its good parts such as the camaraderie between the founding members, and the less-proud aspects of its history, such as many of the stories that were run in the 1990s. Overall, Future Shock! is a fascinating and entertaining story about a realm of geek culture I knew next to nothing about.
Grade: B+
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