If the Japanese themselves can applaud MAMI’s selection of Japanese cinema, then that means the organisers have definitely done something right

Satyen K Bordoloi (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 26, 2010) A lively discussion on the relationship between movies and the media (Pics: Satyen K Bordoloi

Day five at the Mumbai Film Festival started on an ominous note when Takashi Koizumi, Akira Kurosawa’s assistant for two decades, sounded alarm bells for Japanese cinema.

“Contemporary cinema, I am sorry to say, is not in a good state because of the collapse of the studio system. Today Japanese cinema is focussed on not how beautiful a film is, but how fun it is.”

The master’s favourite apprentice, Takashi Koizumi

“Beautiful cinema tries to maintain harmony, but fun cinema destroys harmony. I am alarmed by Japanese cinema right now,” he said to a slightly shocked, but not so unaware gathering.

This was a stark contrast, coming as it was after Arun Khopkar’s passionate summarising of Japanese cinema with words like, “These (Japanese filmmakers of the past) are not just great artists, but they represent a religion at a time in which God is dead. Their films teach you not only to live, but to love.”

Koizumi was amazed at the package of Japanese cinema at the Mumbai Film Festival and asked that this retrospective happen in Japan itself so that his own countrymen could see the films of their own great masters. Moderator for the event, Aruna More >