Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on July 2010

The Swedish horror flick Let the Right One In (2008; pictured) will screen at Ginza Theatre Cinema (1-11-2 Ginza, Chuo-ku; 03-3535-6000) from July 10. A successful reimagining of the vampire genre, the film focuses on a bullied 12-year-old boy and his budding friendship with the girl next door—who just happens to be a be a 200-year-old bloodsucker. The surprise international hit is currently getting the Hollywood remake treatment…

To celebrate the centenary of Akira Kurosawa’s birth, Shin-Bungeiza in Ikebukuro (3F, 1-43-5 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku; www.shin-bungeiza.com) is screening 29 films by the director from July 10. The retrospective covers every stage of Kurosawa’s career, beginning with The Men Who Tread on the Tiger’s Tail (1945) and continuing with the critically revered Rashomon (1950), Ikiru (1952) and Seven Samurai (1954). The program ends with his final completed film, Mada da yo (1993), and also includes A.K. (1985), a documentary on the filming of Ran by French filmmaker Chris Marker…

Shin-Bungeiza will also hold an all-night marathon of animated films by Keiichi Hara on July 10. Hara, known for his colorful, comedic style, will hold a Q&A before the screening of his films based on the manga Esper Mami and Crayon Shin-chan.