#SHOWBIZ: Real-life events power Japan film fest line-up

The 2006 Japanese film Hula Girls, featuring a group of young women learning Hawaiian hula to revitalize a declining mining town, has been screened in 4K remastered for this year's Japanese Film Festival (JFF). Director Lee Sang-Il believes the film's theme of community rebuilding resonates with audiences today. Hula Girls won several awards, including the Japanese Academy's Best Film in 2007.

Lee's most recent film, Kokuho, about a gangster family adopted by a kabuki actor, will have a special screening in Malaysia. Lee emphasizes his dedication to film, stating his skills are best suited for converting written word into visual images. The festival features 15 films, including Kurosawa's Throne of Blood and anime Chimney Town: Frozen in Time.