1985
戰後的十年間，東京很快就進入復甦日本經濟的角色，高樓從廢墟中建起，美國式的消費文化與個人獨立經濟，漸漸取代緊密的家庭關係。而見證這社會變動的小津安二郎，則透過電影描繪出這時代的眾生面像。相較穿梭於當代現象的晩輩黑澤⋯⋯
睽違一年，2021年第74屆坎城影展終於突破新冠肺炎疫情考驗，於本月6日順利開跑！由曾執導《新橋戀人》的法國導演李歐卡霍，以及影帝后亞當崔佛、瑪莉詠柯蒂亞合作的新片《安妮特》（Annette）為盛宴揭開序幕。
To document an extraordinary soul through the lens is to constantly wrestle with the dilemma of completeness. How can one capture the vastness of a life within the limited time of a film? It challenges the filmmaker’s depth of understanding and precision of perspective. Rather than striving for an all-encompassing portrait, it may be more powerful to focus on select moments—those glimmers that illuminate the subject’s essence. The camera becomes not only a tool to pierce through the surface, but also a means for sincere conversation with the person in front of it.
German contemporary master Wim Wenders captures the poetry of everyday life through his lens. Whether retracing the footsteps of Ozu Yasujirō as a devoted admirer, or uncovering the soul of unknown musicians in the heart of Havana, Wenders reveals profound reflections on himself and his work. Giloo presents a curated selection of Wenders’ timeless classics—step into his journey and witness how a master sees other masters, and the beauty of ordinary lives.
There’s something magical about the seaside in summer— a charm that makes you forget time, inviting you to linger in the warmth of fleeting romance. Inspired by the Summer by the Sea feature in the latest issue of Japanese culture magazine Sanma, the editorial team curates a wistful film series set along the coastal towns of Japan’s Kanto region. These six summer films are perfect companions for the season’s memories. Wander through the nostalgic seaside home of Still Walking, soaking in the gentle friction of ordinary family life in Shōnan. Listen for the waves in the final notes of Ryuichi Sakamoto’s farewell. Escape into the dreamlike world of Swallowtail Butterfly and encounter the hallucinatory metropolis of Yen Town. Each of these cinematic landscapes captures a unique Japanese summer, stirring up the most enchanting waves in your heart. This summer, come watch the sea—and the films—with us.
Japan—a land of paradox and fascination—has long captivated travelers from afar. With deep-rooted traditions that have withstood over 150 years of rapid Westernization, Japan continues to preserve a unique national identity and way of life, while also giving rise to a distinct and globally influential pop culture. This month, Giloo Documentaries presents a curated selection of films that explore the many faces of Japan. Journey with us across mountains and oceans, through surface and depth—encountering the worlds of fashion, Takarazuka theater, love hotels, fine cuisine, robotics, and contemporary art. Modern Japan is vibrant, eclectic, and often wildly unexpected—and these films capture its raw, untamed spirit.
Since the Industrial Revolution, Japan’s path to modernization—beginning with the Meiji Restoration—seems to have established a distinct cultural attitude: the ability to preserve long-standing traditions while continuously reinventing them. After WWII, Japan made a remarkable recovery and quickly rose to global prominence, its cultural influence spreading across the world. For someone like me—born in the 1980s in Taiwan—this familiarity with Japanese culture feels second nature. As a student of Western classical music, I often find that this aesthetic of fusion, and even the lifestyle it reflects, plays a guiding and inspiring role in my creative process. The five selected works—covering religion, food, film, craftsmanship, and nature (intentionally excluding music)—may seem diverse, but each explores the same underlying tension and harmony between permanence and transformation. In a world where we constantly face global pressure and existential questions, this deep cultural foundation offers a quiet but powerful source of strength—especially for those of us who stand on the side of the challengers.
Old films, classics, and cinematic relics from the past always hold a certain allure. In these moving images, we see the spirited youth of the 1990s fighting for creative freedom, the vibrant chaos of 1980s Japan, and, through the pioneering lens of Taiwanese home-movie maker Deng Nan-Guang, fleeting moments of beauty from the Japanese colonial era. And of course—let’s not forget the soulful rhythms of Cuba’s legendary old-school jazz musicians.
Worth a second watch