Summer Explorers 3: A special free film programme all about food

12:00pm: Oyster Factory 牡蠣工場

Located in the remote town of Ushimado in Okayama, where oyster shucking has traditionally been a job for local men and women, this documentary observes the Hirano oyster factory upon their decision to bring in two workers from China.

Dir. Kazuhiro Soda, 2015, 145 min | Image: © Laboratory X, Inc.

2:45pm: Akanezora – Beyond the Crimson Sky あかね空

Eikichi, a young tofu maker, ventures from Kyoto to Edo (present-day Tokyo) to open a tofu shop. Years later with the rock-solid business still going strong, Eikichi and his family are thrown into a critical situation that threatens to pull them apart. FULLY BOOKED

Dir. Masaki Hamamoto, 2006, 120 min | Image: © 2006 Akanezora Beyond the Crimson Sky LLP

11:00am: Silver Spoon 銀の匙

At a vocational high school for dairy farming in Hokkaido, where students can try their hands at farming, city boy Yugo, whose decision to enrol was an attempt to avoid his parents and classmates, is struggling to adapt to his new “nature-oriented” surroundings.

Dir. Keisuke Yoshida, 2014, 111 min  | © 2014 “Silver Spoon” Movie Project, © H.A./S

1:10pm: There Is No Lid on the Sea 海のふた

In an adaptation of a story by Banana Yoshimoto, Mari, tired of city life, returns to her hometown of Nishiizu to open a shop selling her favourite childhood treat: kakigori (shaved ice dessert). As Mari finds that the nostalgic flavours help soothe the emotional wounds of her customers, she begins to come to terms with her own.

Dir. Keisuke Toyoshima, 2015, 84 min | © 2015 Banana Yoshimoto / “There Is No Lid Sea” Production Committee

2:55pm: A Drop of the Grapevine ぶどうのなみだ

In a film about soul food set in the picturesque Sorachi region of Hokkaido, anti-social farmer Ao tends a vineyard and dreams of making the perfect pinot noir, while his younger brother Roku grows wheat to make bread. One day, out of the blue, a friendly traveller appears and breathes new life into their days.

Dir. Yukiko Mishima, 2014, 117 min | © 2014 「A Drop of the Grapevine」Film’s　Partners

Japanese Language Activities

On Saturday, 22 July at BAFTA, join us for drop-in food-themed Japanese language activities between the films. The workshops are free and suitable for all ages. No booking is required – please feel free just to drop in!