Luanda: The screening of the film "Godzilla Minus One" marked the opening of the Japanese Film Festival on Friday evening at the Fortaleza and Xyami Shopping Malls in Luanda. The festival is set to run from the 15th to the 22nd of this month.
According to Angola Press News Agency, the event is promoted by the Japanese embassy in Angola in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Angola. This year, alongside the featured film, other titles such as "Your Name", "Stand by Me Doraemon", and "A Samurai in Time" will be shown in rotation at the scheduled locations and days.
In his welcoming remarks, Japanese ambassador to Angola, Hiroaki Sano, highlighted that "Godzilla Minus One" was produced in a special edition to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the first Godzilla film. He emphasized the importance of cultural exchange between the two countries through events like this festival.
"We chose this film to show here in Angola because it conveys the suffering of the people after the war. Godzilla symbolizes a gigantic weapon and natural disasters, serving as a warning message for humanity, depending on each person's perspective," Sano stated.
The two-hour feature film, categorized as a kaiju or drama, stars Ryunosuke Kamiki as Koichi Shikishima. It was directed by Takashi Yamazaki and produced by Toho Studios. The film depicts the emergence of Godzilla in Japanese territory after World War I, causing significant devastation and leading to a conflict with Japanese soldiers.
The festival's first session attracted a diverse audience, who remained engaged throughout the screening. The event is held in partnership with the Japan Foundation and CineMaxea Otomes SR.
