With its upcoming film series Zen and its Opposite, the Japan Society in New York offers a counterpoint to its meditative look at Zen throughout the month of October.
The Zen and its Opposite series opens on October 15, 2010 with Kwaidan (1965) and is labeled as Essential and Turbulent Japanese Art House.
It concludes on February 18, 2011 with Sword of Doom (1966).
3 more films (one per month) will be shown in between these 2.
To give you a taste of what to expect, here are the program notes on Kwaidan:
"Winner of the Special Jury Prize at Cannes, Kwaidan features four nightmarish tales in which terror thrives and demons lurk. Adapted from traditional Japanese ghost stories, this lavish (Kwaidan was the most expensive film of its time), widescreen production is one of Masaki Kobayashi’s masterpieces."
Sounds like a good warm up for Halloween even though Japanese read more scary stories during the summer months. It makes you sweat and cools you off.
Exploring dark corners of the soul for Tokyo Thursdays #160
Previously: Japanese Chronicles by Nicolas Bouvier, A Look Back at Japan from 50's to 70's