Experience the best of modern Japanese cinema at Budapest’s 2025 Film Week!
The ever-popular Japanese Film Week will return to Toldi Cinema for the second time in 2025. Just like the previous time, five outstanding Japanese films have been selected from the best of Japanese cinema of recent years. This time, the Festival will bring a diverse range of films, including suspenseful human drama as well as coming-of-age films. For Japanese film lovers, it is a must-see film festival!
The Japanese Film Week opens on Monday, 6 October with „Another World”, a slow-burning family drama that has a deep dramatic impact. This will be followed by „Sea of Revival”, a dark, gritty human drama on Tuesday, and on Wednesday, a visually stunning film with a deep message called „Children of the Sea” will be screened. The selection also includes the beautifully shot film called „They Say Nothing Stays the Same”, which reflects on the impact of change on society. „And Your Bird Can Sing” is the last one on the list, an intriguing film about three friends who just want to cherish the existing moments.
The admission fee for each screening is HUF 2000 (EUR 5). Tickets can now be purchased at the ticket office or on the website of Toldi Mozi. The films will be screened in Japanese, with English and Hungarian subtitles.
Lineup of the Japanese Film Week 2025 autumn
① Another World (2019, 120 mins)
Screening date: 6 October 2025 (from 18:30)
Koh, who has aimlessly taken over his father’s job as a charcoal maker, rarely thinks about his wife, Hatsuno and his only son, Akira, using work as an excuse. One day, Koh is surprised to see Eisuke, his old school friend and former member of the Self-Defence Forces, who has suddenly returned home after many years. By reencountering Eisuke and speaking with Mitsuhiko, another of his old friends, Koh starts to realise how little he has valued his family. When Koh learns about Eisuke’s past, he finally decides to face his work, family and his own life.
② Sea of Revival (2019, 124 mins)
Screening date: 7 October 2025 (from 18:30)
Who killed her? Why?
Ikuo, the protagonist, lives aimlessly. He tries to turn his life around by moving to a new town with his girlfriend, Ayumi and her daughter, Minami. Their new lives start off peacefully, but one thing leads to another before they reach the point of no return. After an argument, Ikuo tells Ayumi to get out of the car on the freeway. She is murdered, and there’s no clue who the killer is. Ikuo’s colleagues suspect him, and he becomes self-destructive.
③ Children of the Sea (2019, 111 mins)
Screening date: 8 October 2025 (from 18:30)
When Ruka was younger, she saw a ghost in the water at the aquarium where her dad works. Now she feels drawn toward the aquarium and the two mysterious boys she meets there, Umi and Sora. They were raised by dugongs and hear the same strange calls from the sea as she does. As the three children’s relationship grows, strange phenomena are frequently occurring above the Earth.
④ They Say Nothing Stays the Same (2019, 137 mins)
Screening date: 9 October 2025 (from 18:30)
Toichi is a boatman who ferries the villagers to a town on the other side of the river. Besides rowing a boat for the villagers all day long, he barely has any communication with others except Genzo, a young neighbour. In the upstream of the river, a large bridge is being constructed. Everybody is excited, but Toichi has mixed feelings about it. One day, Toichi meets a mysterious young girl. Having no family and no place to go, Toichi let her stay with him, but this encounter starts to bring about changes to Toichi’s life…
⑤ And Your Bird Can Sing (2018, 106 mins)
Screening date: 10 October 2025 (from 18:30)
The main character, « Me », works in a bookshop in the suburb of a town in the north of Japan. He shares a flat with a friend named Shizuo. Sachiko is « Me »’s colleague from the bookshop. She is in a relationship with an older man, the manager of the bookshop, but feels attracted to « Me » and leaves the manager. When Shizuo meets Sachiko, he too starts to like her… Depicted like a breeze in the heat of Summer, the relationship between these three young Japanese is built on a delicate balance of love and friendship.
The Japanese Film Week is a collaboration between the Japan Foundation Budapest Office and Toldi Cinema.