July 17, 2009

Musashi: The Dream of the Last Samurai, written by Mamoru Oshii and directed by Mizuho Nishikubo, has been officially selected in competition for the Filmmakers of the Present section of the 62nd Film Festival Locarno, to be held in Locarno, Switzerland from August 5 to 15, 2009.

Founded in 1946, the Film Festival Locarno is one of the most prestigious and oldest film festival in the world, alongside Venice and Cannes.
Every year, 180.000 movie-goers, 1,100 journalists and 3,400 professionals converge on the small Swiss-Italian town of Locarno, which becomes the world capital of auteur cinema for eleven days.

The Filmmakers of the Present competition is renowned for its rigorous selection, and offers films that are radical and innovative in their approach, subject or style, that question both the complexities of contemporary life and cinema itself.

We are really delighted to be showing Musashi at Locarno commented Frédéric Maire, the Festival's Artistic Director. The film's aesthetic references the best of animation cinema, but also the great masterpieces of Japanese film history. In addition to the combination of different styles and genres it creates a unique, post-modern universe that fits perfectly with the Festival's programming objective, which is to remain constantly on the alert for new developments in film language.

Most likely the first example of the anime form being used for a documentary, Musashi: The Dream of the Last Samurai is a larky, restlessly inventive look at 17th-century master swordsman Miyamoto Musashi, from the pen of the famed Mamoru Oshii. Full of digressions (even into Western and Chinese culture) and self-mockery, the pic can be appreciated by all Asiaphile viewers. (Derek Elley, Variety)

Screening Schedule in Locarno:

PRESS SCREENING
Date: August 12th (Wed)
Time: 18:00
Place: Kursaal Theatre

OFFICIAL SCREENING:
Date: August 13th (Thu)
Time: 18:30
Place: Fevi

SECOND SCREENING
Date: August 14th (Fri)
Time: 9:00
Place: La Sala

THIRD SCREENING
Date: August 15th (Sat)
Time: 16:15
Place: Otello

For further information, please check the 62nd Film Festival Locarno official website:
http://jahia.pardo.ch

© 2009 Production I.G/Musashi Production Committee