Lover's Exile Film Screening at Japan House
AEMS & Japan House Film Screening
The Lover's Exile: Bunraku Puppet Theatre of Japan
In Japanese with English subtitles
Wednesday,
September 19, 2007, 5:30 p.m.
Japan House, 2000 S. Lincoln Ave., Urbana
Introduction by Professor Elizabeth Oyler
FREE
Join us for an evening of bunraku, Japan's classical tradition of puppet theatre, in the serene surroundings of U of I's Japan House. This film by Marty Gross is the only filmed adaptation of a full bunraku performance. Professor Elizabeth Oyler, a specialist in medieval Japanese narrative and performance in the Dept. of East Asian Languages and Cultures (EALC), will provide an introduction. The Lovers' Exile is an adaptation of Meido No Hikyaku (The Courier for Hell), a major work of classic Japanese dramatist Monzaemon Chikamatsu (1673-1724). Set in early eighteenth-century Japan, it tells the story of Chubei, a young messenger in love with a low-class prostitute at a local tea-house. He uses his clients' money in order to free her and the two flee the town, but are only able to briefly delay their tragic fate. Performed by the celebrated Bunraku Ensemble of Osaka. Thanks to the Asian Educational Media Service for bringing this film to us.
This will also be the first meeting of our Cultural Enrichment/Volunteer Group this year, so you will have a chance to hear about upcoming events at Japan House and ways in which you can volunteer. We hope to see you!
