Tokyo: Cinema Guild Acquires North America Rights to Shinji Somai’s ‘Moving,’ Sets Theatrical Release

Cinema Guild has acquired the North American distribution rights for the new 4K restoration of Shinji Somai’s 1993 film Moving from MK2 Films. The New York-based distributor of world cinema plans to open the film in specialist U.S. and Canada theaters in 2024.

The newly restored version of Somai’s coming-of-age classic won the best restored film prize at Venice Classics when it premiered at the Biennale in September.

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One of Somai’s best-known works, Moving premiered at the Cannes Film Festival’s Un Certain Regard section in 1993. The film tells the story of Renko (Tomoko Tabata), a young girl coming to terms with her parents splitting up. Living with her mother Nazuna in Kyoto, Renko leans on her boyfriend and best friend as she tries to first get her parents to reconcile before deciding to find her own place in the world.

“Moving shows Shinji Somai’s style at its most finely tuned and emotionally operatic,” said Cinema Guild’s Edward McCarry in a statement. “Somai used long takes to focus the energy of his young actors into uniquely physical performances, and Tomoko Tabata as Renko is the quintessential Somai youth. The screen radiates with her life force. We’re very proud to continue flying the flag of Somai with this film, the perfect gateway into his vital body of work.”

Moving was restored in 4K this year by Yomiuri Telecasting Corporation under the supervision of cinematographer Toyomichi Kurita. A 4K/Blu-ray/DVD release will follow the theatrical run in 2024.

The acquisition of Moving and plans to release it theatrically, follows Cinema Guild’s distribution of Somai’s Typhoon Club (1985) and P.P. Rider (1983) in 2023.

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