What to Watch: Japanese Film Festival Online 2024

The Japanese Film Festival Online streams a diverse catalog of cinema from Japan. As an entirely free festival, viewers from around the world can instantly gain access to many movies and TV shows, including some archival films. The Japan Foundation started JFF in 2016 to highlight and share Japanese culture through film, and has since expanded its access to 27 countries with subtitle options in over a dozen languages. These facets of JFF make it a fantastic chance to experience all kinds of Japanese cinema from almost anywhere around the world.

One of JFF’s most memorable films of the year was the drama My Broken Mariko. In this tragic tale of friendship and childhood trauma, director Yuki Tanada portrays an entrancing story highlighting the guilt felt when dwelling on the past. It follows Shi-ino, a young woman whose childhood best friend, Mariko, has committed suicide. Now she takes it upon herself to retrieve and scatter her ashes. The film shows Shi-ino’s journey in parallel with events of their childhood, slowly but increasingly revealing the abusive life Mariko suffered, the care these two girls had for each other, and why Mariko eventually ended her own life. As Shi-ino relives these memories, she tries making up for lost time by taking Mariko’s ashes to do things she wanted to do together. But Shi-ino’s motive for doing this becomes increasingly uncertain—what at first seems like an honorable act by a good friend turns into obligation, driven by the burden of guilt. Actress Mei Nangao’s performance as Shi-ino creates a beautifully empathetic character full of determination, but she maintains a fundamental sadness that comes with regret for not doing enough to save her best friend. Ultimately, My Broken Mariko reveals the toll that guilt takes on a person—the past can’t be changed, and we must learn to carry on with what’s left behind.   

My Broken Mariko promo image / Anime News Network

Conversely, the festival also has films of less serious subject matter but are nevertheless artistically distinct. One such film is School Meals Time Graduation, directed by Shinya Ayabe. The film has a goofy premise executed with a fun, frivolous style: A middle school teacher who has an abnormal enjoyment for school lunch faces a rivalry with a student who shares the same passion. With rapid zooms and overdramatic dialogue, we’re whisked into a light-hearted, playful story. The commitment to the tone sometimes makes the film feel too unserious, though. It ends up feeling a little repetitive and expected, but it still makes for a fun watch. While the impact of this film is not nearly as lasting as others at the festival, it’s still an appreciably unique addition to the lineup.

Additionally, JFF published a few archival films alongside their modern releases. This year included the children’s anime Jungle Emperor Leo, a highly praised film by Eichi Yamamoto from 1966. Despite containing some distasteful, inexplicit sentiments containing ethnic stereotypes, the film is still widely admired for its lasting impact on manga and anime culture. It proudly symbolizes the Japanese traditions of nobility and the importance of upholding family name, as well as the strength to lead a righteous path in the face of struggle. 

Three characters from the series Rikuoh / TBS

Currently available through JFF are two TV series, both of which are popular, well-received dramas. One of these shows, Rikuoh, follows a businessman (Koji Yakusho) who runs a shoemaking company struggling to survive as demand falls for their traditional-style Japanese shoe. Similar to Jungle Emperor Leo, this series grounds itself in themes of purpose and perseverance as the company adapts itself to the changing market. The narrative is absorbing and motivational, making us want to keep watching just to cheer them on.

The Japanese Film Festival Online is an exciting and valuable opportunity to experience a huge range of cinematic art, and hopefully it continues doing so for many years to come.