Locarno in Beirut: Saya Zamurai

The Sursock Museum in partnership with the Embassy of Switzerland in Lebanon, Metropolis Cinema, and UBS AG have the pleasure to present Locarno in Beirut: Celebrating 70 Years of Locarno Festival, taking place between Wednesday 23 May and Monday 28 May. Three outdoor screenings will be held at the Sursock Museum, followed by three screenings at Metropolis Empire Sofil Cinema, in Ashrafieh.

Saya Zamurai
Dir. Hitoshi Matsumoto, 2011
HD, 103'
In Japanese with English subtitles
Cast: Takaaki Nomi, Sea Kumada, Jun Kunimura
Director of photography: Ryuto Kondo
Music: Yasuaki Shimizu
Screenplay: Hitoshi Matsumoto
Swiss Critics Boccalino Award - Locarno International Film Festival 2011

Kanjuro Nomi is an aging samurai who only has a scabbard. With a past that made him throw away his sword and refuse to fight, he now journeys to nowhere with Tae, his only daughter. Kanjuro becomes a wanted man for deserting his lord and is sentenced to "The Thirty-Day Feat": a formidable task to restore a smile to the sad prince who has lost his mother. He has thirty days to complete his assignment and one chance per day; if he succeeds, he walks free. If he fails, he must commit seppuku (the Japanese ritual suicide by disembowelment).

Hitoshi Matsumoto was born in Amagasaki, Japan, and made his acting debut in 1982 as part of the comedy duo Downtown. Since then, he has appeared in numerous popular television comedies. He is considered an innovator in Japan's comedy scene, as evidenced in the collection of skits entitled "Visualbum." And not only acting, but his credit also includes as a writer and director in number of his own TV projects. His feature films are Big Man Japan, which was screened at Directors' Fortnight section at the Cannes International Film Festival, and Symbol which was premiered at Toronto International Film Festival. Saya Zamurai is his third feature film.