PENGUINS IN THE SKY - ASAHIYAMA ZOO (2008)

Asahiyama Zoo in Hokkaido, is the northernmost zoo in Japan. The unpopular zoo welcomes a new zoo keeper, young YOSHIDA (Yasuhi NAKAMURA), who has more affection for insects than people after years of being bullied at school when he was young. Yoshida soon realizes that Asahiyama Zoo is facing a financial crisis and the zoo director TAKIZAWA (Toshiyuki NISHIDA) has been doing everything in his power to save the zoo from closing down.

Moved by Takizawa’s passion, Yoshida and other zoo keepers came to share the zoo director’s belief that one’s dreams can come true, and together they tackle this seemingly impossible task of revitalizing Asahiyama. A breakthrough arrives in the form of “Behavioral Exhibition,” a method that is pioneered by Ashiyama’s zoo keepers and which eventually makes the zoo renowned throughout the world.

In 2006, Asahiyama Zoo surpassed Ueno Zoo, Japan’s oldest and the most famous zoo in central Tokyo, in its number of visitors. What’s so special about Asahiyama Zoo and its “Behavioral Exhibition?”

Director: Masahiko Makino
Starring: Toshiyuki Nishida, Yasuhi Nakamura, Ai Maeda
2008/Color/112min/Vista Size/SRD

©2008"PENGUINS IN THE SKY - ASAHIYAMA ZOO"Film Partners

Review: Coming Soon!!

SONOHI NO MAENI (2008)

Based on the original Naoki-Prize-Winning novel by Kiyoshi Shigematsu, this story focuses on the lives of Kenta and Toshiko, a middle-aged couple whose life takes a tragic and unexpected turn when Toshiko is diagnosed with a terminal illness. Together with her husband and sons, Toshiko is determined to live her life to the fullest until that final day comes. Their journey takes them back to their old town where they relive old memories and revisit their all too brief history together.

Director: Nobuhiko Obayashi
Starring: Kiyotaka Nanbara, Hiromi Nagasaku, Toshio Kakei
2009/Color/139min/Vista Size/Dolby SRD

©2008[その日のまえに]製作委員会

Review: Coming Soon!!