A: Hey there! Guess what? Something exciting's coming up!
B: What is it?
A: The big film festival in Tokyo starts later this month! Can you believe it?
B: No way! I didn't know that. Is Japan taking part?
A: Absolutely! Two Japanese films have been shortlisted for the competition out of 1,970 entries from all over the world!
B: Wow, that's amazing! What are those two movies about?
A: One is called "Blonde." It's about a junior high school teacher who reflects on himself while dealing with students rebelling against school rules by dying their hair blonde. Sounds funny, right? But it also tackles some serious social issues.
B: Oh, interesting! And the other film?
A: It's called "Echoes of Motherhood." This movie portrays the complex feelings and conflicts between a mother and daughter. The famous director Kawase Naomi plays the main role as the mother.
B: That sounds intense. Who directed these films, by the way?
A: For "Blonde," it's Sakashita Yuichiro, and for "Echoes of Motherhood," it's Nakagawa Ryutaro. Nakagawa said Kawase was the perfect choice for her role and praised her energy and power as a director.
B: I can't wait to see these movies! When will they be shown?
A: The festival runs from October 27 to November 5 at venues in Tokyo's Hibiya district and other places. So mark your calendars, buddy! Let's go watch them together!