Screening, The Taste of Tea (茶の味, 2004)

This Japanese comedy-drama was written and directed by Katsuhito Ishii. The plot follows the lives of the Haruno family, who live in a rural town north of Tokyo. Nobuo (father) is a hypnotherapist who teaches his son Hajime to become an excellent Go player, but Hajime has a rough time dealing with girls. Yoshiko (mother) refuses to be an average housewife and works on animated films at home with help from grandfather Akira, an eccentric former animator. Eight-year-old daughter Sachiko frequently sees a giant-size double of herself and contemplates ways to get rid of it. Uncle Ayano, a sound engineer and producer, comes to visit and influences Sachiko with his childhood tales. The film has been referred to as a surreal version of Ingmar Bergman’s Fanny and Alexander (1982). It was a selection of the Cannes Film Festival and was listed in the 2012 Sight & Sound critics poll as one of the greatest films ever made. 

Prior to the screening, guest speaker Dr. Joel Neville Anderson, Professor of Cinema Studies and Film at Purchase College, SUNY, will present an historical introduction and lead a post-screening discussion. Japanese cultural food and beverages will be served free-of-charge, but donations are highly encouraged. 

This film series is funded in-part by a grant from The Japan Foundation, New York. Due to limited seating, advanced reservations are required.