KYOTO INTERNATIONAL FILM AND ART FESTIVAL 2022

The Shuri Gekijo is the oldest surviving traditional movie theater in Okinawa. Since its opening in 1950, when the devastation of the ground war of WWII was still fresh in Okinawa, the theater has been in business for 72 years with almost no change in its appearance. In the beginning, in addition to showing movies, it was an indispensable community institution where people gathered for things such as shows of Okinawan performing arts and neighborhood school events, but as the times changed, it became a movie theater specializing in adult movies.
Although the theater was relaunched as a theater showing classic films in May 2021 after the COVID-19 pandemic, the third director, Masanori Kaneshiro, passed away suddenly in April 2022. The theater was tragically closed. Currently, a group of volunteers is conducting an investigation and considering the theater's future survival. This short documentary takes a look at the history, current state, and future of the Shuri Gekijo.

Director

Ryuji Taira

Cinematography

Kota Sunagawa

Country

Japan

Year

2022

Copyright

(c)ShuriTheatreResearchGroup