Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on September 2013

The Tokyo International Film Festival is inviting Metropolis readers to a special screening of What Maise Knew (pictured), which transplants Henry James’s novel to the present day to show divorce from the perspective of a child, at 4pm on September 29 at Akasaka Civic Center Hall. Email cinematic@metropolis.co.jp for a chance to win one of five available tickets. The 26th Tokyo International Film Festival runs October 17-25 at Roppongi Hills and other venues. http://tiff.yahoo.co.jp/2013/en/

A documentary on one woman shunning modern Japan in favor of a people-friendly and eco-friendly lifestyle is screening at Ginza’s Cine Switch (4-4-5 Ginza, Chuo-ku ; www.cineswitch.com) from September 14. Venetia’s Garden was filmed at the 100-year old Kyoto home and garden tended by Briton Venetia Stanley-Smith.

The microbudget American comedy Strutter is beating the odds to find an audience in Japan. Directors Allison Anders and Kurt Voss raised $17,000 on Kickstarter to make the gritty, black and white story of an L.A. rocker who loses both his band and his girl to his musical idol. Screening from September 14 at Shibuya’s Image Forum (2-10-2 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku; www.imageforum.co.jp).