Pacific Film Archive is presenting “Cinema Japan,” a series of two dozen classic Japanese films as a tribute to Kashiko Kawakita, who along with her husband under the auspices of the Kashiko Film Institute, played a major role in bringing Japanese cinema to the attention of the western world. -more-
If your impression of Japanese cinema consists entirely of samurai films, Pacific Film Archive's "Cinema Japan" series, running through Dec. 17, should set you straight. But these 24 films, which embody the breadth and depth of Japanese film in the post-World War II era—great as they are—may only whet the appetite. For viewers interested in delving further, three recent DVD releases from Criterion offer a great place to start. -more-
A symposium with with Jacqueline Baas, curator and former director of the University Art Museum, William T. Wiley, artist, Fred Martin, artist, writer and Dean Emeritus of the San Francisco Art Institute, Mark Levy, professor and author, and others, from 1 to 5 p.m. at JFK University Arts & Consciousness Gallery, 2956 San Pablo Ave., 2nd Floor. Enter at Ashby Ave. 649-0499. www.jfku.edu/asian -more-
The Starry Plough, South Berkeley’s Irish pub, celebrates its 35th anniversary this weekend. Festivities begin at 9:30 p.m. Friday with the Buffalo Roam Reunion Show and continue with live music all day Saturday. $10. 841-2082. 3101 Shattuck Ave. -more-
