“Killing” (2018, 80 minutes) will be screened on Wednesday, Feb. 26, at 7 p.m. at the Japan Foundation Los Angeles, 5700 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 100, Los Angeles.
The first samurai period film from Shinya Tsukamoto, who has captured international attention with “Tetsuo the Iron Man” and “Fires on the Plain,” among others. Questions about life and death are brought into the open through ronin earnestly living in a farming village during the turbulent times of the late Edo period.
Two and a half centuries free of warfare have impoverished samurai. Tsuzuki Mokunoshin (Sosuke Ikematsu) has left his fiefdom and lives with a farming family. He practices his swordsmanship by sparring with neighbor Ichisuke (Ryusei Maeda). He has also become close with Ichisuke’s elder sister, Yu (Yu Aoi). One day the three witness a duel taking place within the grounds of a shrine.
In Japanese with English subtitles. This film contains some adult material. Viewer discretion is advised.
Free; no registration required. For more information, call (323) 761-7510 or visit www.jflalc.org.