Lessons from a Calf + However…

Monday, March 16, 2020

Lessons From a Calf (Mou Hitotsu No Kyouiku – Ina Shogakkou Haru Gumi No
Kiroku) (1991, 47 min.)

Kore-eda’s first film follows an elementary school class as they raise a dairy cow named Laura. This documentary captures their curiosity and enthusiasm as they care for her over the course of a year and become increasingly attached to their bovine specimen. When it is time to send Laura back to the farm, the film ends with a resonant final evocation of loss.

However (Shikashi – Fukushi Kirisute No Jidainni) (1991, 47 min.)

Originally meant to document the government’s policy toward health compensation, HOWEVER… became an exploration of the life of Yamanouchi Toyonori. The head of Japan’s Social Welfare Bureau, Yamanouchi compensated victims poisoned by polluted drinking water. As the Japanese government became increasingly reluctant to compensate victims, Yamanouchi became increasingly frustrated, eventually committing suicide over the issue.

Screening as part of our retrospective Family Portraits: The Films of Hirokazu Kore-eda, from Mar 12 – 19, 2020. Discounted ticket packs available in 3-packs ($36 for general, $27 for IFC Center Members) and 5-packs ($60 for general, $45 for IFC Center Members) here.

DCP Projection

• Country Japan
• Language In Japanese with English subtitles.
• Year 1991
• Running Time 94 minutes
• Distributor TV Man Union
• Director Hirokazu Kore-eda
• Editor Hirokazu Kore-eda
• Cinematographer Katsuhiko Suzuki, Hirokazu Kore-eda
• Accessibility Assistive Listening, T-Coil

IFC Center does not generally provide advisories about subject matter or potentially triggering content in films, as sensitivities vary from person to person. In addition to the synopses, trailers and other links on our website, further information about content and age-appropriateness for specific films can be found on Common Sense Media, IMDb and DoesTheDogDie.com as well as through general internet searches.