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Japan bonsai1

Bonsai Cinema

Welcome to Bonsai Cinema, which is part of the Mūbii Japan programme and offers film fragments from EYE’s collection. Admission is free. You are all invited to visit Bonsai Cinema, which is located opposite Cinema 3, from 15 to 25 October.

Japan bonsai

Bonsai Cinema (total length of the film fragments: 60 minutes, with music) is a loop performance running from morning to evening. The colouring was achieved by means of stencilling and tinting.

Fragments shown

Bits & Pieces. No. 228 (FR, Mark-Paul Meyer, 1993, Eclipse)

Compilation of silent film fragments from Germany and other countries (1910-1925). Japanese landscapes. Pathé Frères.

Bits & Pieces. No. 237 (NL, Mark-Paul Meyer, 1994, Amateur Film Onderneming)

Compilation of silent film fragments from Germany and other countries (1910-1925). “Japan, Country of Joy. An oriental picnic in Hiroshima”. c. 1925.

Kioto et ses temples (FR, Unknown, 1914, Eclair Scientia)

Footage of various places around Kyoto, including a number of temples.

La récolte du riz au Japon (FR, Unknown, 1910, Pathé Frères)

An informative film about rice cultivation in Japan documenting the various stages of production, such as the harvesting and cleaning of rice.

Newsreel: Pathé revue no. 42. L”Après-midi d”une japonaise (FR, Unknown, 1920, Pathé Cinéma)

A short hand-coloured French newsreel item showing the daily activities of women belonging to Japan”s upper classes as they drink tea and play tennis in the park. The nitrate copy, which came to in EYE in 1986, underwent conservation treatment in 1989.

Les lis du Japon (FR/JP, Unknown, 1917)

A short, coloured documentary on Japanese lilies. The Japanese lily “Lilium superbum' blossoms in July and August. With the help of a special camera the film shows the opening of the lily in twenty seconds instead of the 24 hours it normally takes in nature. This film was restored by EYE in 2003 on the basis of a 9.5mm wide film with perforations in the middle. Digital restoring techniques made it possible to transfer the film to standard 35mm film while preserving the colours that had been applied to the original.

La trahison du daimio (JP, Unknown, 1913, Pathé Frères - The Japanese Film)

The samurai Juro is engaged to the geisha Iova, but then she is abducted by two daimyos (feudal lords in Japan who were large landowners).

La mousmée et le brigand (FR, Unknown, 1911, CGPC)

In this oriental romantic crime drama two abductors fall in love with a girl, but she longs to be with her fiancé.

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Mubii Japan

Those curious about what makes Japanese film so unique is in for a treat at Eye this autumn. With an overview of more than forty titles, we provide insight into more than ninety years of fascinating film history, from the early twentieth century to the present day.

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