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Tokyo Pop w/ Low Bar Chorale
The following description was submitted by the event organizer.
For International Women’s Day, The Future of Film is Female presents a screening of a largely forgotten gem of ’80s American independent cinema by Fran Rubel Kuzui (Buffy the Vampire Slayer). Tokyo Pop goes on a breezy tour through bubble-era Tokyo, replete with tongue-in-cheek nods to the city’s American-influenced pop culture. Portland’s Low Bar Chorale will lead an 80s sing-a-long before the screening.
ON SCREEN: Tokyo Pop
Tokyo Pop. 1988. USA/Japan. Directed by Fran Rubel Kuzui. Screenplay by Rubel Kuzui and Lynn Grossman. With Carrie Hamilton, Diamond Yukai. DCP. 4K restoration. In English and Japanese, English subtitles. 99 min.
Bleach-blonde rocker Wendy (Carrie Hamilton) is disillusioned with her life in New York City. After receiving a “wish you were here” postcard from Japan, she spontaneously hops on a plane to Tokyo, dreaming of making it big as a singer. Quickly finding herself broke and lost in translation, she moves into a youth hostel for gaijin (foreigners) and takes up work as a hostess at a karaoke bar. Just when she’s at her breaking point, she meets Hiro (Diamond Yukai), a rock ‘n’ roller whose band is looking for their big break. They form a romantic and musical connection, and Hiro convinces Wendy to become their lead singer. Through a combination of hustle and luck, they stumble into their 15 minutes of fame, but Wendy soon realizes that being a gaijin rocker may be nothing more than a fad. She begins to question where her future lies and whether she will hold her bandmates back if she stays.