Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on June 2010

©1972 Winterfilm Collective

From June 19-July 16, the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography in Ebisu (1-13-3 Mita, Meguro-ku; www.syabi.com) will present a pair of documentaries on the Vietnam War. Hearts and Minds won the 1974 Academy Award for best doc and inspired the career of Michael Moore, who said it is “not only the best documentary I have ever seen, it may be the best movie ever.” Winter Soldier (1972; pictured) chronicles a 1971 investigation into American war crimes during which many enlisted soldiers expressed opposition to the war.

A retrospective of films starring actress Masako Izumi will screen at Laputa Asagaya (2-12-21 Asagaya-Kita, Suginami-ku; www.laputa-jp.com) from June 20-Aug 14. Izumi struck a chord with postwar Japanese audiences by specializing in characters who kept a stiff upper lip despite the harsh socio-economic conditions of the time. Highlights include Hikou Shojo (“Delinquent Girl,” 1963), about a young woman who attempts to distance herself from her abusive father and turn her life around, and Tokyo Night (1967), about an apprentice geisha who runs off with a rock band. After retiring from the screen, Izumi became the first Japanese woman to trek to the North Pole…

Shin-Bungeiza in Ikebukuro (3F, 1-43-5 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku; www.shin-bungeiza.com) will hold an all-night marathon of animated films by Katsuhiro Otomo on June 26. Otomo is best known for his iconic manga Akira, which debuted in 1983 and which he made into a feature film in 1988. Other films screening include Memories (1995) and Steamboy (2003).

Unless noted, Japanese films screen without English subtitles. Non-English-language films are shown with Japanese subtitles only