japanese
2006-05-16 | The YAMAGATA Documentary Film Library Friday Theater (June–July)

On the second and fourth Fridays of each month the YIDFF Organizing Committee holds screenings of films which are not shown at commercial theaters, such as documentary films including the Film Library Collection films, pre-war Japanese films, masterpieces, independent works, experimental films, and animation at the 40-seat theater. Tomonokai (support) members can join the Friday Theater for free (membership fee is 1,000 yen for six months). Anyone is welcome to join the Tomonokai.

The YAMAGATA Documentary Film Library Friday Theater

In Remembrance of Director Yanagisawa Hisao
June 9 (Fri) 14:00, 19:00 (screens twice)
Not That Way but This
Dir: Yanagisawa Hisao / JAPAN / 1982 / Japanese / Color / 16mm / 113 min



Higuchi Genichiro—The Mysteries of Life, the Micro Universe

Screenings of science films by researcher-cum-director Higuchi Genichiro, who passed away this February at the age of 99.


Higuchi Genichiro, Part 1—The Mysterious World of Slime Mold
July 14 (Fri) 14:00, 19:00 (program screens twice)
The Life Cycle of Cellular Slime Mold (“ Saibosei nenkin no seikatsushi”)
1982 / 16mm / 15 min
Behavior and Differentiation of Cellular Slime Mold (“Saibosei nenkin no kodo to bunka”)
1991 / 16mm / 21 min
The Life History of Slime Molds (“Shinsei nenkin no seikatsushi”)
1997 / 16mm / 28 min

Slime mold, a mysterious living creature that is neither plant nor animal. Depiction of this beautiful and bewitching form in a microscopic universe.


Higuchi Genichiro, Part 2—Living in the woods, creating the woods
July 21 (Fri) 14:00, 19:00 (program screens twice)
Symbiosis between Fungi and Plants (“Kin to shokubutsu no kyosei”)
1999 / 16mm / 28 min
The World of Mushrooms (“Kinoko no sekai”)
2001 / 16mm / 47 min

In fact mushrooms hold the key to cycles within the woods. The symbiotic roles played by bacteria that live alongside plants.

Higuchi Genichiro

Born in Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture in 1906. Entered the film world while in his thirties and made his directorial debut in 1942. Continued directing films for six decades, and earned international acclaim for his science films and research. Honored in 2001 with the Minakata Kumagusu Award. Passed away this February at the age of 99.


[Venue] The YAMAGATA Documentary Film Library (Yamagata Big Wing 3F)
[Admission] Free for Tomonokai members. (Membership fee: 1,000 yen for six months)
[Contact] phone: 023-666-4480 (YIDFF Yamagata office)