VIZ Cinema is a 143-seat underground cinema inside NEW PEOPLE in San Francisco, owned and operated by VIZ Pictures. Equipped with a cutting-edge HD digital projection and THX®-certified sound system, VIZ Cinema’s programming focuses on the latest and hottest films from Japan, as well as an incredible legacy of classics, favorites, documentaries and anime – making it the only venue of its kind in the United States.
Living with an artist is as hard as living as an artist. Still, we can’t help being attracted to their way of life…that is almost like art in itself. Throughout our September cinema program, come discover their passion, pain and pleasure via a special selection of feature films and a documentary film about the queen of Japanese pop art, Yayoi Kusama!
Fri, 9/4 – Sun, 9/13
Fine, Totally Fine [Regional Premiere]
(2008, 110min., With English Subtitles, Directed by Yosuke Fujita)
Cast: Yoshiyoshi Arakawa, Yoshino Kimura, Yoshinori Okada
Yosuke Fujita’s directorial debut which won New York Asian Film Festival Audience Award, is a surreal comedy charting a lazy love triangle. Teruo, the eldest son of a used bookstore owner has a dream to build the world’s scariest haunted house. Hisanobu, his laid back childhood friend, hesitantly goes along with Teruo’s strange hobby. Enter Akari, an extremely clumsy painter, and things get complicated as both men start to have a crush on her.
9/4 (Fri) 5:30, 8:00
9/5 (Sat) & 9/6 (Sun) (12:30), 3:00, 5:30, 8:00
9/7 (Mon) (3:00), 5:30, 8:00
9/8 (Tue) & 9/9 (Wed) (3:00) only!
9/10 (Thu) & 9/11 (Fri) (3:00), 5:30, 8:00
9/12 (Sat) & 9/13 (Sun) (12:30), 3:00, 5:30, 8:00
Thu, 9/17 (6:00pm / 8:00pm) one night only!
Yayoi Kusama: I Love Me [Regional Premiere]
(2008, 104min., With English Subtitles, Directed by Takako Matsumoto)
Cast: Yayoi Kusama
Become a witness to the avant-garde artist Yayoi Kusama (born in 1929) at work, who is also known as the queen of polka dots! The highly anticipated documentary successfully captures the genius’ creation and personal conflict between life, death and love. Without a dull moment, she will touch a soft place in your heart.
Fri, 9/18 – Thu, 9/24
FUNUKE: Show Some Love, You Losers! [Regional Premiere]
(2007, 113min., With English Subtitles, Directed by Daihachi Yoshida)
Cast: Aimi Satsukawa, Eriko Sato, Hiromi Nagasaku, Masatoshi Nagase
Win Free Movie Tickets for FUNUKE: Show Some Love, You Losers!
by sending your full name to info@vizcinema
Reviewed as “amusing Japanese dramedy” by Variety, FUNUKE was in Cannes Film Festival 2008 Official Selection. This dark comedy centers around a dysfunctional family with a history of dark secrets. When both parents die in a car accident, actress-wannabe Sumika returns home from Tokyo and takes the opportunity to harass her aspiring manga artist sister Kiyomi, whom she still blames for her own failures in life for strange some reason.
9/18 (Fri) 5:30, 8:00
9/19 (Sat) & 9/20 (Sun) (12:30), 3:00, 5:30, 8:00
9/21 (Mon) (3:00), 5:30, 8:00
9/22 (Tue) (2:00) only!
9/23 (Wed) & 9/24 (Thu) (3:00), 5:30, 8:00
Fri, 9/25 – Thu, 10/1
SORASOI by Katsuhito Ishii [Regional Premiere]
(2008, 89min., With English Subtitles, Directed by Katsuhito Ishii & Nice Rainbow)
Cast: Fumi Nikaido, Ken Oyama, Ryu Morioka, Sayuri Ichikawa
Take this rare chance to see visionary Katsuhito Ishii’s latest work SORASOI, a “delightfully goofy summer-camp comedy. (-Variety)”! The story unfolds in a small beach side hostel called “SORASOI” where a group of college students practice their dance routine day and night for the upcoming competition. Meanwhile, a mysterious girl named Yuri shows up and stays in “SORAROI” and one of the male students falls in love with her at first sight.
9/25 (Fri) 6:00, 8:30 – with special appearance of Directors & Actors!
9/26 (Sat) & 9/27 (Sun) (12:00), 2:00, 4:00, 6:00, 8:00
9/28 (Mon) – 10/1 (Thu) (4:00), 6:00, 8:00
Tue, 9/8 & Wed, 9/9 (6:00pm / 8:30pm) – 2 night only!
Gurren Lagann: The Movie
(2008, 113min., With English Subtitles, Directed by Hiroyuki Imaishi)
Based on the Japanese anime television series Gurren Lagann, the film takes place in a fictional future in which human beings have been forced to live in closed-off underground villages. Kamina and Simon are constrained by the limits imposed by the village elder. Yet all this will change, when Simon stumbles across a fantastic device – just as the village’s peace is broken by a violent intrusion.
Wed, 9/16 (5:00pm, 8:00pm) – 1 night only! / Tickets $10
NANA
(2005, 114min., With English Subtitles, Directed by Kentaro Otani)
Cast: Mika Nakashima, Aoi Miyazaki, Ryuhei Matsuda
Come join us for Shojo Beat Anime Party celebrating the release of NANA Anime series DVD Box Set in association with VIZ Media! The party begins with the first episode of NANA anime series followed by the live action movie. Stay seated until the end of the show for a special poster giveaway!
9/16 (Wed)
5:00 NANA (Anime, 22min.) + NANA (Live Action, 114min)
8:00 NANA (Anime, 22min.) + NANA 2 (Live Action, 130min)
Tue, 9/22 (5:00pm, 8:00pm) – 1 night only! / Tickets $10
Honey and Clover
(2006, 116min., With English Subtitles, Directed by Masahiro Takata)
Cast: Sho Sakurai, Yu Aoi, Yusuke Iseya
The Shojo Beat Anime Party goes on! The 2nd night features the first episode of H&C Anime series followed by the live action movie. Honey and Clover is a romantic comedy about a group of art school students who try to find their way through college, art and love. Don’t miss the poster giveaway at the end!
Thu, 9/24 (8:00-10:00 pm)
APAture Film Night
(Featured films: Madelien the Small, Loving Work, Sunflowers, Double Features, and more)
As part of the 11th annual APAture festival of emerging Asian American artists, Kearny Street Workshop presents short films and videos by six emerging Asian American filmmakers. Tanuj Chopra, winner of the 2006 SFIAAFF Grand Jury Prize, will be unveiling clips from his next film Pia, which is currently filming in San Francisco. APAture Film Night includes Madelien the Small by Nara Denning, Loving Work by Vivian Wenli Lin, Sunflowers by Kevin Wong, Double Features by Chihiro Wimbush, and two laugh-out-loud videos by Philip Huang. Join us for this chance to see up-and-coming Asian American filmmakers making their mark in the Bay Area and beyond.
With special appearances by the filmmakers.
Admission: $10
Advanced tickets are now available at VIZ Cinema box office
For more information and the complete festival schedule, please visit
kearnystreet.org/apature.
Warning: Loving Work includes strong language, adult themes, nudity –
for mature audiences only.
* All programming is subject to change.
* Showtimes in ( ) indicates matinee price.
