ARCHIVED ONLINE EVENT - Japan Society Film Club: A Page of Madness directed by Teinosuke Kinugasa

Date
Wednesday 5 July 2023
Time
6.30pm (BST)
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Booking Details
Free - Booking essential
Priority for Japan Society Members

Please remember to watch the film in advance. A Page of Madness is available to watch for free on Internet Archive and YouTube (here or here) and to buy on Blu Ray.

*Please note this is a silent film without any intertitles or subtitles, and with different music soundtracks depending on the version. You can read more about the film story and background here and here.

The activities of the Japan Society are made possible thanks to the support of its members. This event is free of charge and open to all. We realise that this is a difficult time for many people. However, if you are planning to attend and do not have a membership subscription as an individual or through your employer, please consider making a donation. You can find details of membership and how to join the Japan Society community here.

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.

Join us on 5 July to explore one of the masterpieces of silent cinema, A Page of Madness directed by Teinosuke Kinugasa in 1926.

A Page of Madness (『狂つた一頁』, Kurutta ichipeiji, 1926) is a silent film directed, co-written and produced by Teinosuke Kinugasa. It is based on a story by celebrated author Yasunari Kawabata (winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1968) and was originally conceived and screened with musical accompaniment and live narration by a storyteller or benshi. Influenced by German expressionism and films such as The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (Robert Wiene, 1920), A Page of Madness is an experimental, avant-garde drama set in a mental asylum in the countryside where a former sailor now works as a janitor in order to take care of his wife who tried to kill herself and their child. The film was considered lost for more than 40 years until the director found a copy in his house in 1971. The surviving print is missing nearly a third of the 1926 version, which adds to its ambiguity and difficult understanding. Nevertheless it still captivates audiences today with its striking and surreal imagery, non-linear structure, and expressive performances as well as with its exploration of madness, memory, and the blurred lines between reality and illusion.

Teinosuke Kinugasa (1896-1982) was a pioneering Japanese filmmaker born in Kameyama, Mie Prefecture. Kinugasa's early passion for the arts led him to pursue a career in the film industry. He began his journey as an actor, but it was his transition to directing that truly showcased his creative brilliance. Known for pushing boundaries and experimenting with techniques, he played a vital role in the formation of Japan's independent film movement with films such as A Page of Madness (1926), and the influential war drama Crossroads (1928). His visionary work earned him recognition outside Japan, including the Palme d'Or at the 1954 Cannes Film Festival for Gate of Hell. Kinugasa's legacy as a groundbreaking director continues to influence filmmakers worldwide.

Japan Society Film Clubs 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.

Booking Info