Dreaming of the Meridian Arc directed by Kenji Nakanishi will open the Japanese Film Festival which will take place from November 5 until December 14, 2022 in Canberra, Perth, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney.

In present-day Japan, Katori City’s Chief of General Affairs, Ikemoto (Kiichi Nakai), is assigned by the Head of Tourism (Keiko Kitagawa) to oversee development. In an attempt to attract visitors to the city, Ikemoto decides to sponsor a historical TV drama about Tadataka Inō, the cartographer renowned for being the first to complete a map of Japan in 1821. But during the process of creating the series with the help of his colleague Kinoshita (Kenichi Matsuyama), the pair uncover a startling truth—that the map was not actually made by Tadataka!

Back in the Edo period, Tadataka dies without seeing the completion of his lengthy enterprise. To honour his vision, Tadataka’s dedicated band of disciples decide to conceal his death and carry out a convoluted secret operation to finish their master’s life’s work. 

Inspired by Shinosuke Tatekawa’s original rakugo story, director Kenji Nakanishi wisely selects a star-studded cast to portray both the past and present in this entertaining comedy, unveiling a surprising truth that’s evaded textbooks.  (JFF 2022)

Screenings:
November 16, 2022 | Wednesday | Palace Electric (Canberra) | 20:00 pm
November 21, 2022 | Monday | Palace Raine Square (Perth) | 20:00 pm
November 23, 2022 | Wednesday | Palace Barracks (Brisbane) | 19:30 pm
November 27, 2022 | Sunday | Palace Barracks (Brisbane) | 17:00 pm
November 30, 2022 | Wednesday | The Kino (Melbourne) | 20:00 pm
December 4, 2022 | Sunday | The Kino (Melbourne) | 16:00 pm
December 7, 2022 | Wednesday | Palace Norton Street (Sydney) | 20:00 pm
December 10, 2022 | Saturday | Palace Verona (Sydney) | 12:30 pm

Trailer:

For more information, please visit: https://japanesefilmfestival.net