20 Films you shouldn’t miss at the 34th Tokyo International Film Festival (Part 2)

By Asian Film Festival on October 4, 2021 • ( 1 Comment )

We continue with our list of film you shouldn’t miss at the 34th Tokyo International Film Festival (Japan) which will take place from October 30th – November 8th, 2021.

* Screening Dates will be added soon *

To see the first part of this article please go HERE

– Recommended Films –

**Moonlight Shadow** by Edmund Yeo – Japan | 2021 – 92 minutes
**Section**: Nippon Cinema Now

The international bestseller “Moonlight Shadow” by Yoshimoto Banana has been adapted for the screen by Edmund Yeo. A heart-wrenching, heart-breaking love story of goodbyes and beginnings (TIFF 2021).

Screening Date:
November 1st, 2021 | Monday | TOHO Cinemas Chanter Screen 2 | 18:20 pm

Trailer:

**Nagisa** by Kogahara Takeshi – Japan | 2021 – 87 minutes
**Section**: Nippon Cinema Now | **World Premiere**

This is the feature debut of Kogahara Takeshi, whose commercials and short films were screened and awareded at many festivals including Cannes Lions and Busan International Film Festival (TIFF 2021).

Screening Date:
November 3rd, 2021 | Wednesday | TOHO Cinemas Chanter Screen 2 | 19:05 pm (with Q&A)

Trailer:

**Somebody’s Flowers** by Okuda Yusuke – Japan | 2021 – 115 minutes
**Section**: Asian Future | **World Premiere**

A neighbor dies when potted flowers fall from a balcony of an apartment complex. A man whose father suffers from dementia begins to question if it really was an accident (TIFF 2021).

Trailer:

**The Brittle Thread** by Ritesh Sharma – India | 2021 – 97 minutes
**Section**: Asian Future | **World Premiere**

In the ancient city of Varanasi, which embraces an intricate history of Hinduism and Islam, a sari weaver and an orchestral dancer live their respective lives, until an incident occurs… (TIFF 2021)

Trailer:

**The Brokers** by Daniel R. Palacio – Philippines | 2021 – 107 minutes
**Section**: Asian Future

Real estate agent Mike clashes with local residents over land development. This tense and topical drama is the second film by the up-and-coming director of Underground (TIFF 2021).

**The Moon Has Risen** by Tanaka Kinuyo – Japan | 1954 – 102 minutes
**Section**: Japanese Classics | **Asian Premiere** | 4K Digitally Restored Version

An enchanting love story based on a superlative screenplay by master filmmaker Ozu Yasujiro, and directed by distinguished actress Tanaka Kinuyo (TIFF 2021).

Screening Dates:
November 2nd, 2021 | Tuesday | TOHO Cinemas Chanter Screen 2 | 10:40 am

**The Nighthawk’s First Love** by Yasukawa Yuka – Japan | 2021 – 98 minutes
**Section**: Asian Future | **World Premiere**

Graduate student Aiko has always had low self-esteem because of the birthmark on her face. When her story is cinematized, she falls for the director who accepts her as she is (TIFF 2021).

**The Wandering Princess** by Tanaka Kinuyo – Japan | 1960
**Section**: Japanese Classics | **Asian Premiere** | 4K Digitally Restored Version

A film adaptation of the autobiography of Aishinkakura Hiro, who lived a tumultuous life as the consort of Fuketsu, the younger brother of Emperor Puyi of Manchukuo (TIFF 2021).

Screening Date:
November 4th, 2021 | Thursday | TOHO Cinemas Chanter Screen 2 | 10:50 am

**Vengeance Is Mine, All Others Pay Cash** by Edwin – Indonesia, Singapore, Germany | 2021 – 115 minutes – **Section**: World Focus | **Japanese Premiere**

Ajo Kawir is a fighter who fears nothing, not even death. His raging urge to fight is driven by a secret — his impotence. Tokyo Gap-Financing Market 2020 Selected Project (TIFF 2021).

Trailer:

**What she likes…** by Kusano Shogo – Japan | 2021 – 121 minutes
**Section**: Nippon Cinema Now | **Japanese Premiere**

At odds with the conventional world, Jun, a closet homosexual, meets Sae, a fangirl of Boys’ Love comic books. The film depicts the struggles of pure-hearted and earnest teenagers (TIFF 2021).

Screening Date:
November 6th, 2021 | Saturday | TOHO Cinemas Chanter Screen 2 | 10:40 am (with Q&A)

Trailer: