Hawaii International Film Festival 2009

When we honor Madame Kashiko Kawakita during this year’s Hawaii International Film Festival, we are honoring the spirit of a great visionary who realized her dream of bringing Japanese cinema to international attention. She would be 100 years old this year, and yet it seems like yesterday when she arrived to be on the Hawaii International Film Festival jury wearing her traditional Japanese kimono, listening so intensely to all she met while lighting up the room with her charisma. It was she who carried prints of Ozu and Kurosawa under her arm to far away places such as Venice, Cannes and Montreal, insisting that the important Festivals of the world take seriously the cinema art of Japan. She knew that film could promote cultural understanding, and she gave her life to that mission.

So it is with great joy and appreciation that we salute Madame Kawakita's memory this year by the screening of four of the hundreds of films she championed and introduced to the West. As she would like, all the screenings will be free and be introduced by the best and the brightest. Donald Richie, who himself received the Kawakita Prize from Madame Kawakita, honors us with his presence when he introduces and leads a discussion after screening three films: Two are Kurosawa’s masterpieces - RASHOMON and IKIRU. The third is directed by Shohei Imamura, BLACK RAIN (Kuroi ame).

Madame Kawakita always welcomed Hawaii film programmers to her theater, with its plush purple chairs. Here they watched new films from Japan unspool year after year. One visitor treated with great care was Victor Kobayashi, professor emeritus, College of Education, University of Hawaii. He honors the memory of Madame Kawakita by introducing ZIGENURWEISEN, directed by Seijun Suzuki. Joining him in leading an after-film discussion is University of Hawaii Art Professor, John Stostak.

Madame Kawakita established the Kawakita Memorial Film Library, which to this day assists film programmers and festivals, including the Hawaii International Film Festival. Representing the Kawakita Memorial Film Library at this year’s Festival is their International Relations Coordinator, Yuka Sakano. Please join us at a Conversation about Madame Kawakita's influence on cinema with Donald Richie. Saturday, October 17 at 3:30 PM at the Regal Dole Cannery Stadium 18 Theaters.

Jeannette Paulson Hereniko, Founding Director of HIFF (1981 to 1996).