The Prince Charles Cinema

Your Name [Kimi no Na wa.]
2016 106mins Japan (12A) Anime
Directed by Makoto Shinkai Starring Ryunosuke Kamiki, Mone Kamishiraishi

Two teenagers share a profound, magical connection upon discovering they are swapping bodies. Things manage to become even more complicated when the boy and girl decide to meet in person.

House [Hausu]
1977 87mins Japan (15) Horror / Comedy
Directed by Nobuhiko Obayashi Starring Kimiko Ikegami, Miki Jinbo, Ai Matubara, Kumiko Oba

An unforgettable mixture of bubblegum teen melodrama and grisly phantasmagoria, Obayashi’s deranged fairy tale House is one of Japanese cinema’s wildest supernatural ventures and a truly startling debut feature.

Distressed by her widowed father’s plans to remarry, Angel sets off with six of her schoolgirl friends in tow for a summer getaway in her aunt’s isolated mansion. But all is not well – in this house of dormant secrets, long-held emotional traumas have terrifyingly physical embodiments and the girls will have to use all their individual talents if any are to survive.

A rollercoaster ride without brakes, House is by turns sinister, hilarious and curiously touching, with ceaseless cinematic invention and a satirical, full-blooded approach to the horror genre.

Harakiri
1962 133mins Japan (15) Drama
Directed by Masaki Kobayashi Starring Tatsuya Nakadai, Akira Ishihama, Shima Iwashita

Down-on-his-luck veteran Tsugumo Hanshirō enters the courtyard of the prosperous House of Iyi. Unemployed, and with no family, he hopes to find a place to commit seppuku—and a worthy second to deliver the coup de grâce in his suicide ritual. The senior counselor for the Iyi clan questions the ronin's resolve and integrity, suspecting Hanshirō of seeking charity rather than an honorable end. What follows is a pair of interlocking stories which lay bare the difference between honor and respect, and promises to examine the legendary foundations of the Samurai code.

Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust
2000 103mins Japan (15) Anime
Directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri Starring Megumi Hayashibara, Kôichi Yamadera, Hideyuki Tanaka

Baron Meier Link is of a dying race, but the vampire doesn't intend to remain lonely much longer. Abducting women in the night is common for his kind, so what's one more? But Charlotte's father has plenty of money, and there's no price he won't pay to get his daughter back. That's why he hires D.

D is a Dunpeal, a breed rarer than that of the vampires - after all, he's half of one. When it comes to hunting those with fangs like his own, he's the best in the business. But that doesn't mean he's the only game in town. The Markus Brothers are on the vampire's trail as well, and they're not about to lose. It's a race, not only between the rival Hunters, but for the vampire and his bride-to-be. But it might be more than just a job to D. Is Charlotte really a captive? Or will another Dunpeal be born to this world?

Perfect Blue
1997 81mins Japan (18) Anime
Directed by Satoshi Kon| Toshi Starring Junko Iwao, Rica Matsumoto, Shinpachi Tsuji

"THE COLOUR OF ILLUSION IS PERFECT BLUE"

A young Japanese singer is encouraged by her agent to quit singing and pursue an acting career, beginning with a role in a murder mystery TV show.

Tetsuo : The Iron Man
1989 64mins Japan (18) Horror / Sci-Fi / Thriller
Directed by Shinya Tsukamoto Starring Shinya Tsukamoto, Tomorowo Taguchi, Kei Fujiwara, Nobu Kanaoka, Naomasa Musaka, Renji Ishibashi

One of the most influential cyberpunk films of all time, Tetsuo The Iron Man chronicles a salaryman's (Tomorowo Taguchi) transformation from man to metal after himself and his girlfriend (Kei Fujiwara) accidentally run down a metal fetishist (Shin’ya Tsukamoto) with their car. Soundtracked by pulsating punk, Tetsuo The Iron Man remains one of the most explosive films.

Godzilla Minus One
2023 124mins Japan (12A) Kaiju
Directed by Takashi Yamazaki Starring Hidetaka Yoshioka, Kuranosuke Sasaki, Minami Hamabe, Munetaka Aoki, Ryunosuke Kamiki, Sakura Andô, Yuki Yamada

Japan has barely recovered from the Second World War when a gigantic peril emerges off the coast of Tokyo. Koichi, a deserter traumatised by his first confrontation with Godzilla, sees this as an opportunity to redeem his conduct during the war.

Millennium Actress
2001 87mins Japan (PG) Anime
Directed by Satoshi Kon Starring Fumiko Orikasa, Mami Koyama, Miyoko Shôji, Shôzô Îzuka

Filmmaker Genya Tachibana begins work on a documentary about famed Japanese actress Chiyoko Fujiwara. Now well into old age, Chiyoko has become reclusive and shy about any publicity, but she eventually warms up to Tachibana and starts to relate her life story. As the decades pass, Chiyoko is transformed from a teen with big dreams into a full-blown celebrity, while her cinematic characters span various eras, from ancient Japan to the distant future.

Tampopo
1985 114mins Japan (15) Comedy / Western
Directed by Jûzô Itami Starring Ken Watanabe, Nobuko Miyamoto, Tsutomu Yamazaki

The tale of an eccentric band of culinary ronin who guide the widow of a noodle-shop owner on her quest for the perfect recipe, this rapturous “ramen western” by Japanese director Juzo Itami is an entertaining, genre-bending adventure underpinned by a deft satire of the way social conventions distort the most natural of human urges—our appetites. Interspersing the efforts of Tampopo (Nobuko Miyamoto) and friends to make her café a success with the erotic exploits of a gastronome gangster and glimpses of food culture both high and low, the sweet, sexy, and surreal Tampopo is a lavishly inclusive paean to the sensual joys of nourishment, and one of the most mouthwatering examples of food on film ever made.

Paprika
2006 90mins Japan (15) Adventure / Drama
Directed by Toshi|Satoshi Kon Starring Katsunosuke Hori, Megumi Hayashibara, Tôru Emori

When a machine that allows therapists to enter their patients' dreams is stolen, all hell breaks loose. Only a young female therapist, Paprika, can stop it.

Battle Royale [Batoru rowaiaru]
2000 114mins Japan (18) Action / Thriller
Directed by Kinji Fukasaku Starring Aki Maeda, Tarô Yamamoto, Tatsuya Fuji, Tatsuya Fujiwara

42 9th graders are sent to a deserted island. They are given a map, food, and various weapons. An explosive collar is fitted around their neck. If they break a rule, the collar explodes. Their mission: kill each other and be the last one standing. The last survivor is allowed to leave the island. If there is more than one survivor, the collars explode and kill them all.

Mishima : A Life in Four Chapters
1985 121mins Japan (15) Biography
Directed by Paul Schrader Starring Toshi, Ken Ogata, Kenji Sawada, Toshiyuki Nagashima, Yasosuke Bando

A fictionalized account in four chapters of the life of celebrated Japanese writer Yukio Mishima.

Ghost in the Shell
1995 89mins Japan (15) Anime
Directed by Mamoru Oshii Starring Akio Ôtsuka, Atsuko Tanaka, Iemasa Kayumi

In this Japanese animation, cyborg federal agent Maj. Motoko Kusanagi (Mimi Woods) trails "The Puppet Master" (Abe Lasser), who illegally hacks into the computerized minds of cyborg-human hybrids. Her pursuit of a man who can modify the identity of strangers leaves Motoko pondering her own makeup and what life might be like if she had more human traits. With her partner (Richard George), she corners the hacker, but her curiosity about her identity sends the case in an unforeseen direction.

Cure
1997 111mins Japan (15) Horror
Directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa Starring Kôji Yakusho, Masato Hagiwara, Tsuyoshi Ujiki

A detective starts spiraling out of control when a wave of gruesome murders with seemingly similar bizarre circumstances are sweeping Tokyo.

Perfect Days
2023 125mins Germany, Japan (PG) Drama
Directed by Wim Wenders Starring Aoi Yamada, Arisa Nakano, Kôji Yakusho, Min Tanaka, Tokio Emoto, Yumi Aso

Hirayama is content with his life as a toilet cleaner in Tokyo. Outside of his structured routine, he cherishes music on cassette tapes, books, and taking photos of trees. Through unexpected encounters, he reflects on finding beauty in the world.

Mirai [Mirai no Mirai]
2018 98mins Japan (12A) Anime
Directed by Mamoru Hosoda Starring Haru Kuroki, Moka Kamishiraishi, Gen Hoshino

Nominated for Best Animated Feature Film at the 2019 Oscars, Mirai is directed by Mamoru Hosoda (The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, Summer Wars, The Boy and the Beast)

The birth of a sibling is a joyous time for many, but not for Kun. Four years old and spoilt rotten, he sees the arrival of baby sister Mirai as competition for his parents’ love. That is, until magical encounters with an older Mirai and family past, present and future send the siblings on an intimate journey through time and space, to confront Kun’s uncertain feelings and prepare him to become the big brother he needs to be.

Godzilla [Gojira]
1954 96mins Japan (PG) Kaiju
Directed by Ishirô Honda Starring Akihiko Hirata, Akira Takarada, Takashi Shimura

Godzilla is the roaring granddaddy of all monster movies. It’s also a remarkably humane and melancholy drama, made in Japan at a time when the country was reeling from nuclear attack and H-bomb testing in the Pacific. Its rampaging radioactive beast, the poignant embodiment of an entire population’s fears, became a beloved international icon of destruction, spawning almost thirty sequels.

Princess Mononoke
1997 133mins Japan (PG) Anime
Directed by Hayao Miyazaki Starring Yôji Matsuda, Yûko Tanaka, Yuriko Ishida

In the 14th century, the harmony that humans, animals and gods have enjoyed begins to crumble. The protagonist, young Ashitaka - infected by an animal attack, seeks a cure from the deer-like god Shishigami. In his travels, he sees humans ravaging the earth, bringing down the wrath of wolf god Moro and his human companion Princess Mononoke. His attempts to broker peace between her and the humans brings only conflict.

My Neighbor Totoro
1988 87mins Japan (U) Anime
Directed by Hayao Miyazaki Starring Toshi, Chika Sakamoto, Hitoshi Takagi, Noriko Hidaka

Satsuki and Mei's mother has taken ill. In order to be closer to her while she recovers in a rural convalescent hospital, their father moves the two sisters from their home in a city to the countryside. The house they move into is a ramshackle old place in the shadow of an ancient camphor tree, and Satsuki and Mei embark on adventures with the wondrous forest spirits who live nearby.

Presented in Both Subtitled and Dubbed Performances; see SUB or DUB tags next to film time for performance info.

English Dub Voice Cast: Dakota Fanning, Elle Fanning, Tim Daley, Pat Caroll, Lea Salonga, Frank Welker and Paul Butcher

Japanese Language Voice Cast: Noriko Hidaka, Chika Sakamoto, Shigesato Itoi, Sumi Shimamoto, Tanie Kitabayashi, Hitoshi Takagi

Redline
2009 102mins Japan (15) Anime
Directed by Takeshi Koike Starring Takuya Kimura, Yû Aoi, Tatsuya Gashûin, Yoshinori Okada, Kanji Tsuda

A daredevil driver is determined to compete in Redline, the most popular race in the galaxy. The race only occurs every five years, but in order to participate he must overcome the mafia, the government and even love.

Woman In The Dunes
1964 127mins Japan (15) Psychological Thriller
Directed by Hiroshi Teshigahara Starring Eiji Okada, Kyoko Kishida

An entomologist misses the last bus home and spends the night sharing a young widow’s desert shack, only to find the next morning that he’s unable to leave. He soon becomes psychologically and erotically entangled in her strange existence, which includes a daily ritual of shovelling away endlessly drifting sand. 

Winner of a Special Jury Prize at Cannes in 1964 and nominated for two Academy Awards for Best Foreign Film and Best Director, the film combines an extremely erotic drama with a terrifically gripping thriller. Adapted from Kobe Abe’s novel by acclaimed director Hiroshi Teshigahara, the film also features startling high-contrast black and white photography from Hiroshi Segawa and a superb minimalist score by Toru Takemitsu.

Onibaba
1964 103mins Japan (15) Horror / Fantasy
Directed by Kaneto Shindō Starring Nobuko Otowa, Jitsuko Yoshimura, Kei Satō

While her son, Kichi, is away at war, a woman and her daughter-in-law survive by killing samurai who stray into their swamp, then selling whatever valuables they find. Both are devastated when they learn that Kichi has died, but his wife soon begins an affair with a neighbor who survived the war, Hachi. The mother disapproves and, when she can't steal Hachi for herself, tries to scare her daughter-in-law with a mysterious mask from a dead samurai.

Children of Men
2006 109mins Japan, UK, USA (15) Action / Thriller
Directed by Alfonso Cuarón Starring Clive Owen, Julianne Moore, Chiwetel Ejiofor

When infertility threatens mankind with extinction and the last child born has perished, a disillusioned bureaucrat (Clive Owen) becomes the unlikely champion in the fight for the survival of Earth's population; He must face down his own demons and protect the planet's last remaining hope from danger.

Ikiru
1952 143mins Japan (PG) Drama
Directed by Akira Kurosawa Starring Nobuo Kaneko, Shin'ichi Himori, Takashi Shimura

Mr. Watanabe suddenly finds that he has terminal cancer. He vows to make his final days meaningful. His attempts to communicate his anguish to his son and daughter-in-law lead only to heartbreak. Finally, inspired by an unselfish co-worker, he turns his efforts to bringing happiness to others by building a playground in a dreary slum neighborhood. When the park is finally completed, he is able to face death with peaceful acceptance.

Seven Samurai [Shichinin no samurai]
1954 207mins Japan (PG) Western
Directed by Akira Kurosawa Starring Toshi, Keiko Tsushima, Takashi Shimura, Toshirô Mifune

Farmers from a village exploited by bandits hire a veteran samurai for protection, who gathers six other samurai to join him.

Rashomon [Rashômon]
1950 88mins Japan (12A) Drama
Directed by Akira Kurosawa Starring Toshi, Machiko Kyo, Masayuki Mori, Toshirô Mifune

Set in feudal Japan, this film presents an intriguing tale of violent crime in the woods, told from the perspective of four different characters -- a bandit, a woman, her husband and a woodcutter. Only two things about the incident seem to be clear -- the woman was raped and her husband is now dead. However, the other elements radically differ as the four participants and/or witnesses relate their own stories (with the dead man, eerily enough, speaking through a medium). As each account is revealed, what seemed black-and-white turns to various hues of gray, leading to surprising -- and confounding -- revelations.

Spirited Away
2001 125mins English, Japan (PG) Fantasy
Directed by Hayao Miyazaki Starring Mari Natsuki, Miyu Irino, Rumi Hiiragi

In this animated feature by noted Japanese director Hayao Miyazaki, 10-year-old Chihiro (Rumi Hiiragi) and her parents (Takashi Naitô, Yasuko Sawaguchi) stumble upon a seemingly abandoned amusement park. After her mother and father are turned into giant pigs, Chihiro meets the mysterious Haku (Miyu Irino), who explains that the park is a resort for supernatural beings who need a break from their time spent in the earthly realm, and that she must work there to free herself and her parents.

Evangelion: Death (True)² + The End of Evangelion : Double Feature
1998 156mins Japan (15) Anime
Directed by Hideaki Anno Starring Megumi Hayashibara, Megumi Ogata, Yuko Miyamura

EVANGELION: DEATH (TRUE)²: A recap of the first 24 episodes of Neon Genesis Evangelion. Fifteen years after the Second Impact, apathetic teen Shinji joins his father's group NERV to fight the Angels. But the truth may destroy them all.

THE END OF EVANGELION: Concurrent theatrical ending of the TV series Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995). Seele orders an all-out attack on NERV, aiming to destroy the Evas before Gendo can trigger Third Impact and Instrumentality under his control.

The Human Condition - Part 1 - No Greater Love
1959 208mins Japan (15) Drama
Directed by Masaki Kobayashi Starring Michiyo Aratama, Tatsuya Nakadai

First of a trilogy of films. During the Second World War, a Japanese conscientious objector named Kaji works as a supervisor in a Manchurian prison camp. He hopes to avoid duty as a soldier, but he also hopes to be helpful to the welfare of his prisoners. An escape attempt by Chinese prisoners results in Kaji's arrest for collusion. He faces the possibility of transferral to combat--or worse.