San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival preview

GRANDPA’S GONE WILD — “Grandpa’s Wet Dream.” photo by Chihiro Amemiya

Venues

Sundance Kabuki Cinemas

1881 Post St.

San Francisco’s Japantown

(415) 346-3243

Viz Cinema

1746 Post St.

San Francisco’s Japantown

(415) 525-8600

Camera 12 Cinemas

201 South Second St.

San Jose

(408) 271-6840

Gala Presentations

Surrogate Valentine

“Surrogate Valentine” centers around Goh, a full time musician who imbarks on the strangest tour of his life. Goh, played by Goh Nakamura, blurs the lines of reality and fiction in this film by Dave Boyle. Runtime: 71 min. Thursday, March 17, 7 p.m. at the Sundance Kabuki Cinemas and Sunday, March, 20 at 3:30 p.m. at Camera 12 Cinemas. Nakamura will also have a live performance after the film.

Narrative

One Kine Day

Skate shop entrepreneur, turned film director, Chuck Mitsui tries to show the “real Hawai‘i” through “One Kine Day.” The story follows Ralsto, a laid-back skater, that finds out he’s going to be a father and decides to embark on a misadventure around O‘ahu to make some quick cash with his buddies. The film is an easy-going portrait of O‘ahu’s tight-knit, multiethnic working-class community. Runtime: 100 min. Friday, March 11, 6:30 p.m. at the Sundance Kabuki Cinemas and Monday, March, 14 at 4 p.m. at Viz Cinema.

Documentary

Fumiko Hayashida: The Woman Behind the Symbol

Fumiko Hayashida unwittingly became an iconic figure of Japanese incarceration after a photograph of her carrying her sleeping daughter to the Manzanar, Calif. concentration camp was featured in countless museums and magazines. At the age of 97, Hayashida continues to speak out on behalf of the Japanese Americans who were forced into camps during World War II. Runtime: 15 min. Saturday, March 12, 7:30 p.m. at Sundance Kabuki Cinemas and Tuesday, March 15, 4:15 p.m. at Viz Cinema.

Cinema Asia

Abraxas

When a former thrash-rocker turned Buddhist monk faces depression, he starts looking to rocking out again, much to the dismay of his wife and the surrounding community he serves. Jonen, the monk, forges ahead to escape depression and reconcile with his life in this gently humored film by Naoki Kato. Runtime: 113 min. Monday, March 14, 4:45 p.m. at the Sundance Kabuki Cinemas and Sunday, March 20, 7 p.m. at Camera 12 Cinemas.

Peace

Documentary filmmaker Kazuhiro Soda focuses in on two Japanese caregivers and their charges. Toshio and Hiroko Kashiwaga care for, not only a dying elderly World War II veteran, but a large group of stray cats. Soda observes “peace and coexistence” through the film’s depiction of conflict and calmness. Runtime: 71 min. Sunday, March, 13 noon at the Sundance Kabuki Cinemas and Wednesday, March 16 9:15 p.m. at the Viz Cinema.

Shorts

Grandpa’s Wet Dream

Shigeo Tokuda, a 76-year-old hard-working family man, pursues a new passion in order to create a lasting legacy, in adult films. Tokuda grapples with his double-life in this humorous and genuine portrait. Directed by Chihiro Amemiya. Runtime: 16 min. Part of short films Living Life Large that plays on Saturday, March 12, 8:30 p.m. at the Sundance Kabuki Cinemas and Wednesday, March 16, 4 p.m. at Viz Cinema.

Barbara Kawakami: A Textured Life

Akira Boch crafts a short biographical documentary on the story of Barbara Kawakami, a Nikkei dressmaker, mother of three and groundbreaking historian of Japanese immigrants in Hawai‘i. Runtime: 18 min. Part of short films Living Life Large that plays on Saturday, March 12, 8:30 p.m. at the Sundance Kabuki Cinemas and Wednesday, March 16, 4 p.m. at Viz Cinema.

Bicycle

Cued by a mysterious letter, the otherwise idle Mamoru must overcome his withdrawn disposition in order to retrieve each part of his stolen bicycle, a task that allows him to restore meaning to his life. Directed by Dean Yamada. Runtime: 21 min. Part of short films Silent Rituals and Hovering Proxies that plays on Sunday, March 13, 2:15 p.m. at Viz Cinema and Thursday, March 17 at 6:45 p.m. at the Sundance Kabuki Cinema

Inhalation

A young Malay couple is disillusioned by the struggles of overcoming disparity as foreign laborers in Japan. In this meditation on the relationship between intimacy and economic stasis, young Mei must regain what she left behind and accept the burden of her dreams. Directed by Edmund Yao. Runtime: 17 min. Part of short films Silent Rituals and Hovering Proxies that plays on Sunday, March 13, 2:15 p.m. at Viz Cinema and Thursday, March, 17 at 6:45 p.m. at the Sundance Kabuki Cinema.

Junko’s Shamisen

Sol Friedman brings the story of a young girl and her pursuit of revenge for her grandfather’s death in this mixed media tale of innocence, evil and bloodshed. Runtime: 11 min. Part of short films Chicken Proof that plays on Friday, March 11, 9:30 p.m. at Viz Cinema and Monday, March 14 at 4 p.m. at the Sundance Kabuki Cinema.

The Last Dance

Director Michi Tanaka spotlights her husband and their nearly 50-year marriage, after his recent health complications. Runtime: 6 min. Part of short films Tainted Love that plays on Saturday, March 12, 8:45 p.m. at Viz Cinema and Thursday, March, 17 at 5:15 p.m. at the Sundance Kabuki Cinema.

For more information about the Festival, including the schedule or to purchase tickets, visit http://caamedia.org.