"Crossing Mongolia" [Mōko Ōdan]
Year: 1924
Film Length: 100 minutes
Subtitles: None
Discussant: Muneaki Hatakeyama

Description
After traveling to China at the beginning of the 20th century as tairiku rōnin ("continental adventurers"), Usuki Masazō and his nephew Moriji worked as ranchers and hauled goods for the military. Later, they formed a private army to participate in the Mongolia-Manchurian Independence Movement. These activities, which led them from Beijing to Inner Mongolia, even resulted in their becoming familiar with the Inner-Mongolian royal family. Borrowing equipment and staff from the newly formed Mantetsu Film Division, the two shot their travels through Mongolia. The result is this autobiographical documentary, which has previously enjoyed only a single screening.

We are pleased invite you to join us for this rare and special screening to be followed by a short discussion.

Hatakeyama Muneaki is a lecturer and film researcher at Atomi and Kokugakuin Universities. His current research is on Soviet cinema.

Languages: Japanese and English; Admission Free; No Registration Required