Louis Vuitton Hawaii International FIlm Festival 2008

Katsuhito Ishii followers are a ravenous lot, especially in Hawaii. They worship the director's weird and wonderful movies and expect a new Ishii film every fall. Maybe they’re spoiled because the hyper prolific filmmaker seems to attend HIFF every year and never comes empty-handed. His films, including the Golden Maile Award-winning TASTE OF TEA (LVHIFF 2004), FUNKY FOREST: THE FIRST CONTACT (LVHIFF 2005) and HOKURO BROTHERS (LVHIFF 2007), have earned him a huge cult following here. This year, Katsuhito and Nice Rainbow bring us SORASOI, a lighthearted mockumentary that takes place at a hostel and follows a group of college students at dance training camp. The motley crew is there to prepare for an upcoming dance battle. Really though, what more do you need to know? As always, expect odd humor, eccentric characters and refreshing slices of Japanese relationships and rural living. If you’re a Katsuhito junkie, SORASOI is not to be missed! -- Jason Soeda