KEN (Neue Blicke auf die japanische Filmgeschichte)

In the organizer's words:

Sat 5.10., 21h & Fri 11.10., 21:30h
KEN The Sword Kenji Misumi Japan 1964 jap. OmeU 95'
Misumi's only film set in the present day, based on an original by Yukio Mishima, is kept in sober black and white. It tells the story of student Jiro Kokubu, who propagates traditional values of ascetic discipline and spiritual strength in his kendo training and accordingly renounces all the comforts of student life - in stark contrast to his opponent Kagawa, who is repelled by his insistence on outdated ideals. The conflict between the two also stands for a social change that was sweeping Japan at the time.