Uzumasa Limelight - In UK Cinemas Feb 9 (太秦ライムライトJapan, 2016 HD )

In UK Cinemas on Feb 9th from Third Window Films! Starting at the ICA Cinema London before going to Watershed Bristol, Showroom Cinema Sheffield, Filmhouse Edinburgh, QUAD Derby MAC Birmingham, DCA Dundee, Phoenix Leicester, Aberystwyth Arts Centre Aberystwyth As part of the Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme - http://www.jpf-film.org.uk/films/uzumasa-limelight A moving, nostalgic portrait of the men behind the golden age of chanbara (sword-fighting dramas and films), Uzumasa Limelight goes behind the scenes of the distinctive film genre for which Japan is famous. A professional extra named Kamiyama (real-life kirare-yaku Seizo Fukumoto) has devoted 50 years of his life as a kirare-yaku in sword-fighting movies produced at Kyoto's Uzumasa Studios. A master of the art, he lives to die--or more exactly "to be cut"--and show a beautiful, spectacular death on screen. Now an elderly man, Kamiyama lives very modestly but has earned immense respect from his peers, some of them movie stars. When the studio where he works decides to discontinue its chanbara productions, Kamiyama finds himself at a loss. Hope arrives in the form of a young girl named Satsuki, who soon becomes Kamiyama's disciple. Will the art of dying by the sword live on? Starting at ICA Cinema, London from February 9th 2016 and the onto the following locations Watershed Bristol Showroom Cinema Sheffield Filmhouse Edinburgh QUAD Derby MAC Birmingham DCA Dundee Phoenix Leicester Aberystwyth Arts Centre Aberystwyth (Kyoto) is considered the Hollywood of Japan. It has produced many “jidaigeki” films (period dramas with sword fighting) that are loved by many Japanese, and are highly praised all over the world. These films wouldn’t be what they were if it weren’t for the “kirareyaku” (actors whose main job is to be killed by the lead star). Men who are killed, without ever being lit by the limelight… This story is about those men, the unsung heroes of classic jidaigeki films. They loved and respected the art, even when the production of classic jidaigeki films began to dwindle. Using Charlie Chaplin’s film “Limelight” as an underlying theme, the admirable story of these men dealing with a new generation and fading craftsmanship is told with melancholy and soul.