[Buddha-l] Buddhist Studies Film Event at USC (Los Angeles) This Sunday

[jkirk]

X-posted from H-Japan

Any list folk in the Los Angeles area might be interested to see
this film. If you do, please send a comment to the list.
================================== 


                                 H-Japan
                         February 19, 2009


Date: Thu, 19 Feb 2009 00:11:05 -0800
From: Lori Meeks <meeks at usc.edu>


Join us for the U.S. Premiere of Makoto Sasaki's FRAGMENT, a film
that explores Buddhist ritual and prayer in contemporary global
society.

Sunday, February 22, 2009
2:00-3:30pm Screening of FRAGMENT (Japanese with English
subtitles) 3:45-5:00pm Panel Discussion, Q&A School of Cinematic
Arts (SCA) 108, USC Reception to follow Please RSVP to
eascrsvp at usc.edu with your name and number of guests

The screening will be followed by a Panel Discussion with Makoto
Sasaki (filmmaker); Joe Parker (Pitzer College); William
Whittington (USC School of Cinematic Arts); & Lori Meeks (USC
College).

Film Synopsis:

Moved by the tragedy of 9/11, young entertainer Jicchoku Inoue
decides to take a break from his television career so he can make
offerings to those who died in New York. He becomes a Buddhist
priest and commits himself to the aragyo, a 100-day ascetic
practice so severe that is said to have claimed the lives of many
who have attempted to complete it.
Inoue survives the aragyo, a feat that earns him the right to use
special ritual implements believed capable of destroying evil
karma and pacifying the dead. He then takes his newly acquired
ritual skills and instruments to Ground Zero, where he offers
prayers, both for the dead and for world peace. Sasaki's film
follows him on this ambitious journey.

About the Filmmaker

Makoto Sasaki was born in Japan in 1975. In 1997, he participated
as screenwriter for a music movie called Yaips! produced by
Tetsutaro Sakurai and also directed Satsuei Pochomukin, one of
the segments in the anthology of films planed by Shinobu Yaguchi.
The following year he signed a contract with Sony Music
Entertainment as director of the image production team. He now
works as a freelance image and video director for music videos
and TV productions.

About the Cast

Jicchoku Inoue was born in Japan in 1977. After graduating
college,he joined the film industry and appeared in several
Japanese movies, dramas and TV shows. He is the senior
administrative priest of Chokoji, a Nichiren temple in Tokyo,
Japan.

Sponsored by the USC East Asian Studies Center; the Religion,
Identity, and Global Governance Project; the Center for Visual
Anthropology; the Center for Religion and Civic Culture; the
Office of Religious Life; and the School of Religion.

To view the event flyer, please click here:
http://college.usc.edu/east_asian_studies/private/spring_2009/Fra
gment_Flyer.pdf

To view the flyer in Japanese, please click here:
http://college.usc.edu/east_asian_studies/private/images/Japanese
_Flyer_Fragment.pdf

For any additional questions, contact us at easc at college.usc.edu
or 213-740-2991.

Parking is available at Lot M and PSD for $8. Enter campus
through Gate #5 at Jefferson Blvd. and McClintock Ave. and
proceed to parking kiosk. Off-campus parking is also available at
lots on Jefferson Blvd.  
and the street.
<http://www.usc.edu/private/about/visit_usc/USC_UPC_map_color.pdf
>.

*****************************************************************
*
To view a complete listing of upcoming East Asia related events
at USC, please visit the East Asian Studies Center (EASC) website
at <www.usc.edu/easc/events/>.

If you would like to be added to the EASC e-mail list and receive
announcements on upcoming events, please send an e-mail with your
name and affiliation to EASC at easc at college.usc.edu.

*****************************************************************
*



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