The 15th Osaka European Film Festival

This year's poster for the 15th Osaka European Film Festival is certain to catch your eye; the black silhouette of a man in Bedouin robes, walking toward the mystery of a rising sun. Celebrating its 15th anniversary - not many film events can boast such seniority in Japan - the festival has become an Osaka institution that offers the culture lovers of Kansai a unique opportunity to explore the film treasures from the multitude of European cultures.

The Bedouin in the poster is an image from one of the most exciting events in this year's program. On November 21st, fans and first time viewers will be able to enjoy the screening of a new print of Lawrence of Arabia, commissioned in honour of the centenary of British director Sir David Lean's birth. A widely acknowledged masterpiece and winner of seven Academy Awards this will be the first public screening of the film in Japan in many years. With a brand new 35mm print kindly prepared by Sony Picture Entertainment especially for the occasion the OEFF are proud to hold an event that would make Tokyo or even New York or Paris envious. Attending the screening will be Maurice Jarre, who composed the score for the film. At 84, Jarre is one of the world most important film music composers, with nine nominations and three Academy Awards under his belt. All three awards were received for his collaborations with Lean (Lawrence of Arabia, Doctor Zhivago and Passage to India) and he will talk to the audience about his work with the incredible list of major filmmakers who have used his talents in the 50 years since he moved from France to Hollywood (to work on Lawrence of Arabia).

In addition to Jarre a number of filmmakers and actors will be jetting into Osaka on the weekend of November 22nd to 24th to present the Japanese premieres of their latest films. Many of the films are either in English or with English subtitles. Here are our recommendations:

Garage (Ireland), introduces gentle misfit Josie, working as a mechanic in a crumbling gas station on the periphery of a small rural Irish town. Writer Mark O'Halloran will be present to talk about his flair for minimalism, slapstick, and the restrained storytelling in this loving portrayal of a slow- witted man.

Ben X (Belgium) has a resonance with Japanese society in its depiction of a Belgian otaku and hikikomori (recluse) doing all he can to cope with life. Director Nic Balthazar will speak about how he based his film on the true story of an mildly autistic teenager's tribulations.

Attractive, successful but just the wrong side of forty, a middle-aged doctor reaps a cold and calculating vengeance on her younger, prettier rival and wayward spouse in Black Ice (Finland). With it's cool blondes, taut narrative structure and dark humour, let's see if director Petri Kotwica will acknowledge a hint of Hitchcock in his pic.

In Seamstresses (Bulgaria), three provincial girls struggle to make their way out of poverty in modern Sofia. With their idealistic dreams broken by the harsh realities of life in a hostile city the lives of the girls diverge and give us a vivid portrait of life in contemporary Bulgaria. Actress Aleksandra Surchadzhieva will be on hand to talk about her experiences of making the film.

Finally, Out of Bounds (Switzerland/Italy) portrays a washed-up boxer entering the world of illegal street-fighting in a last bid to escape his life of poverty and failure. Director Fulvio Bernasconi will address the audience about why he decided to make his a grimy study of the depths that pride and hardship can lead to.

Closing out the film extravaganza the festival will host the Mozzarella Panic Tour at Club Noon. In collaboration with the French-Japanese label Sonore, there will be a bunch of live acts from Japan and Italy while all the guests will be available for a chat for those who dare.

The 15th Osaka European Film Festival runs between Sat, Nov 1st to Fri, Dec 5th. The main program of premiere screenings is from Fri, Nov 22nd to Nov 24th. Please visit www.oeff.com for full listings and information.

Text & photos: Courtesy OEFF