I WISH (film screening)
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October 31st, 2023 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm EDT
Cost: FreeDetails » Click here to register »
I Wish 奇跡
Tuesday, October 31, 7:00PM (ET)
Doors open 6:30PM | Film Screening | Innis Town Hall
Directed by KORE-EDA Hirokazu • 2011 • Drama / Family • 127 minutes • Presented in Japanese with English subtitles • Trailer
Twelve-year-old Koichi lives with his mother and retired grandparents in Kagoshima, in the southern region of Kyushu, Japan. His younger brother Ryunosuke lives with their father in Hakata, northern Kyushu. The brothers have been separated by their parents’ divorce and Koichi’s only wish is for his family to be reunited.
When he learns that a new bullet train line will soon open linking the two towns, he starts to believe that a miracle will take place the moment these new trains first pass each other at top speed. With help from the adults around him, Koichi sets out on a journey with a group of friends, each hoping to witness a miracle that will improve their difficult lives.
Awards & Recognition:
2012 Asia Pacific Film Festival, Best Director
2012 Hong Kong International Film Festival, SIGNIS Award – Special Mention
2012 International Film Festival for Children and Youth – Isfahan, Best Film
2011 San Sebastián International Film Festival, Best Screenplay
Free admission. Register below.
Director Biography: 
Born 1962 in Tokyo, KORE-EDA Hirokazu graduated from Waseda University in 1987 and joined TV MAN UNION, where he worked mainly on documentaries. In 1995, his debut feature Maborosi won the Venice Film Festival Golden Osella, as well as several other awards, which established his international reputation. His next film After Life (1999) won the Grand Prize at the Nantes Three Continents Festival, as well as an award from the Buenos Aires International Festival of Independent Cinema. The film became a big hit, securing a release in 30 countries.
In 2004, Nobody Knows was In Competition at Cannes, where lead actor YAGIRA Yuya became the youngest-ever recipient of the Best Male Actor Award. In 2009, he broke new ground, making GODA Yoshiie’s short stories into the movie Air Doll, which screened at Cannes in Un Certain Regard, as well as international film festivals in Toronto, Chicago and Rotterdam. Since the release of I Wish, Director Kore-eda went on to win the prestigious Palme d’Or in 2018 for the universally acclaimed Shoplifters, ventured into his first French-language film and Korean-language film in The Truth (2019) and Broker (2022), and most recently made his return to Japanese cinema with Monster (2023), which won the Queer Palm award and Best Screenplay at Cannes.
Related Events:
Next Stop Japan
Wednesday, November 1 to Saturday, November 4, 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM (ET)
Union Station Pop-Up | Admission Free | Registration required
Visit Waiting Area, West Wing (Street Level), Union Station (65 Front Street West, Toronto) and explore the vibrant shopping centre of Japan’s iconic train station pop-up. Immerse yourself into authentic cuisine, traditional arts, captivating performances, and much more. Hope to see you there!
Let Japanese train and station culture come to life through literature and media!
JFT Library has a wide range of collection of fiction and nonfiction items on Japanese trains and stations, including physical books, manga, DVDs & Blu-rays, and ebooks & audiobooks in English, Japanese, and French. Don’t forget to stop by JFT Library (Bloor-Yonge station) before or after the event, and immerse even deeper into the world of Japanese train and station!
Take a look at JFT Library’s Item List to help you decide which item to explore!
Apply for a new library card or renew your expired card here.
Upcoming Film Screenings:
Restaurant from the Sky
Friday, November 3, 5:59PM to Sunday, November 5, 11:59PM (ET)
Virtual Film Screening | Streaming Canada-wide | Admission Free
After cooking an unforgettable meal, a visiting chef inspires a family of dairy farmers in Hokkaido, northern Japan, to open a restaurant. Co-presented with JETAA Ottawa and the Embassy of Japan in Canada.
In support of JET Programme Canada. Be a part of the JET story! Deadline: November 14, 8PM (ET). Apply for the JET Programme here.
