Labyrinth of Cinema
UW Cinematheque 821 University Ave., UW Vilas Hall, Room 4070, Madison, Wisconsin
press release: Japan | 2019 | DCP | 179 min. | Japanese with English subtitles
Director: Nobuhiko Obayashi
Cast: Tadanobu Asano, Riko Narumi, Nobuhiko Obayashi
It’s the last picture show for a small movie theater in a sleepy seaside town, which commemorates the occasion with an all-night marathon of Japanese war films. When lightning strikes the theater, three young men are transported into the world onscreen where they experience the violent battles of several wars leading up to the bombing of Hiroshima. A breathless cinematic journey through Japan’s past, the awe-inspiring, visually resplendent Labyrinth of Cinema urges us to consider cinema as a means to change history. The culmination of an exceptional career, this was the final film of Obayashi (1938-2020), whose first feature was the celebrated and phantasmagorical House (1977).
Screenings mostly take place at 4070 Vilas Hall, 821 University Avenue. Once-a-month Sunday afternoon screenings take place at the Chazen Museum of Art, 750 University Avenue. In accord with current UW Madison policies, masks are required for entry to our venues. All Cinematheque screenings are free and open to the public. Please visit our website for a complete listing of programs and descriptions.