ARCHIVED ONLINE EVENT - The Japan Society Film Club: A Fugitive from the Past directed by Tomu Uchida

Date
Wednesday 6 November 2024
Time
6.30pm (GMT)
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Booking Details
Online meeting on Zoom
Please register for the meeting in advance from the link below. After registering, you will receive a automated confirmation email with meeting access details (please check your spam folder if you don't receive any emails).

Free for members of The Japan Society

Please remember to watch the film in advance.
A Fugitive from the Past is available to watch on Arrow Player (with subscription) and Tubi TV (free with ads) and to rent and buy on Apple TV and Amazon Prime.

Please help us to keep this event free and open to all! The Japan Society is a charity and its activities are made possible thanks to the support of its members. If you are planning to attend this event and are not a member (as an individual or through your employer), please consider becoming a member or making a donation if you can - the recommended donation is £5. Thank you!

Join us in November for our film club discussion of the masteful crime drama A Fugitive from the Past (1965) directed by Tomu Uchida.

A Fugitive from the Past (飢餓海峡, Kiga kaikyo, 1965) is a crime thriller and psychological drama exploring guilt, fate, and human redemption. Set in post-war Japan, the film follows Takichi Inukai, a convict believed to be guilty of numerous murders after he manages to escape from prison with two other men. As years pass, Inukai begins a new life as a respected member of his community but finds he cannot escape the shadow of his past. Detective Yumisaka has been obsessed with his case for more than a decade, and as he begins to close in, Inukai finds himself struggling with his own redemption. An adaptation of a 1700-page novel by Tsutomu Mizukami, A Fugitive from the Past is considered Tomu Uchida's masterpiece and was ranked 5th on Kinema Junpo's list of the top ten Japanese films of the year.

Tomu Uchida (1898-1970) was a distinguished director celebrated for his diverse body of work and innovative storytelling. Born in Okayama, Uchida began his career in the film industry in the 1920s, initially working as an actor and assistant director. He quickly transitioned to directing, making his mark with silent films before successfully adapting to sound. Uchida’s directorial debut came with A Living Doll (1929), but it was his later works such as Earth (1939) and Bloody Spear at Mount Fuji (1955) that solidified his reputation. Using his experiences from time spent in Manchuria during and after World War II, his films often explored themes of social injustice, human resilience, and the complexities of Japanese society.

Do you love Japanese film classics, anime or contemporary cinema stories? Do you miss Japan and want to see it at least on screen? Would you like to learn and discuss about Japanese culture and society? The Japan Society Film Club is an online space to chat about films and Japan in an informal atmosphere. It take place on the first Wednesday of the month. We recommend a film to watch in advance and meet online to discuss. Films are often available online for free, to rent or with subscription, on DVD/Blu Ray or on BFI player. The event is open to all and we encourage participants to freely express their opinions and feelings about the films.

If you have any questions, please call The Japan Society office on 020 3075 1996 or email events@japansociety.org.uk.