Thursday Cinema
Pom Poko

SALT Beyoğlu, Walk-in Cinema

Pom Poko (1994)
Director: Isao Takahata
119 minutes
15.00 - Turkish; English subtitles
19.00 - Japanese; Turkish and English subtitles

The tanuki, peaceful raccoon-like creatures that dwell in the Tama Hills on the outskirts of Tokyo, have always lived in harmony with nature. Now they are facing extinction as their woodland home is destroyed to make room for housing projects. The tanuki fight back magically, transforming themselves into objects, ghosts, even humans, but eventually the enemy grows wise, and the confrontation turns tragic.

After the collapse of the Japanese economy in 1994, a construction hype boomed in Tokyo’s Tama hills. Pom Poko questions the rising ethics of money making in Japan at the time, offering a glimpse into the sad loss of its rural areas. Through Japanese legends and rumors, writer and director Isao Takahata depicts the process of destroying for modern development and transformation, and through various means of deceit and sabotage, the taking over and altering of the image and spirit of forested land.

As part of a special screening on April 23, Pom Poko will screen at 15.00 dubbed in Turkish; English subtitles, and at 19.00 in original Japanese; English and Turkish subtitles.


Program is free. Reservations are not accepted.

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