The monsters of the 7th Japanese art land at the Maison de la culture du Japon in Paris from Friday October 4 to Saturday November 9, 2024. An opportunity to (re)discover the story of Godzilla, as well as other kaijū eiga (monster films) in an exclusive cycle of 13 feature-length films!
This year, Godzilla celebrates its 70th birthday! First appearing in 1954, this monster from the Pacific truly revolutionized the kaijū eiga (monster movie) genre to the point of becoming for many an emblematic figure of popular culture.
To mark this anniversary, the Maison de la culture du Japon in Paris is organizing a cycle of 13 exceptional films on these monsters of the 7th Japanese art form, from Friday October 4 to Saturday November 9, 2024. These include Godzilla, produced by Toho and the founding film of the kaijû eiga genre, as well as Rodan, Gappa, Gamera and Majin.
Please note that these films are screened in the large auditorium of the Maison de la culture du Japon, located on level -3 of the building. Full price: 6 euros. Reservations open on September 4 on the official Maison de la culture du Japon website.
Kaijû, a monstrous history of Japanese cinema (1954 - 2024), the program
- Friday, October 4, 7:30pm / Saturday, November 9, 2:30pm
Godzilla (1954)
French premiere in 4K restored version
Godzilla emerges from the Pacific to attack Tokyo. This first kaijû film was inspired by a true story (in March 1954, a Japanese tuna boat was contaminated by radioactive fallout from American nuclear testing).
- Saturday, October 5, 7:30 pm / Friday, November 8, 5:00 pm
Rodan (1956)
After a series of strange murders strikes the employees of a mine, a giant pteranodon named Rodan destroys the towns in its path...
- Saturday, October 5, 2:30 pm / Saturday, November 9, 7:30 pm
Godzilla Minus One/Minus Color (2023)
Special B&W screening
No sooner has peace returned than the population is faced with a new terror: the monster Godzilla.
- Wednesday, October 9, 2:00 pm / Saturday, November 2, 2:30 pm
Objectif Terre, mission apocalypse (1972)
To support himself, an unsuccessful mangaka takes a job at an amusement park. There he discovers a secret alien base preparing to invade Earth.
- Wednesday, October 9 at 5:00 pm / Friday, November 8 at 7:30 pm
La Guerre des monstres (1966)
Gaira, a belligerent aquatic monster, attacks a ship and devours several sailors. Sanda, a similar creature living in the mountains and close to humans, is implicated. The two titans eventually clash in the heart of Tokyo.
- Thursday, October 10, 5:00 pm / Wednesday, November 6, 7:30 pm
The Return of Majin (1966)
Villagers oppressed by samurai revive a gigantic stone deity, Majin, through prayer, and their vengeance is satisfied.
- Thursday, October 10, 7:30pm / Wednesday, November 6, 5:00pm
Gappa(1967)
Scientists land on an island where the natives worship the mysterious deity Gappa. In a cave, they discover a baby reptile, which they take to be experimented on. Shortly afterwards, two giant reptiles fly over Tokyo, ready to do anything to get their offspring back.
- Friday, October 11 at 5:00 pm / Saturday, November 9 at 5:00 pm
Shin Godzilla (2016)
The Japanese government organizes to stop the devastation caused by a giant creature before Japan is wiped off the map.
- Friday, October 11 at 7:30 pm / Saturday, November 2 at 5:00 pm
Godzilla vs. Biollante (1989)
Unédit en France
Against the backdrop of the arms race, a renowned geneticist is recruited by the Japanese government to create anti-nuclear energy from Godzilla cells. But he accidentally gives birth to a plant monster that emerges from Lake Ashi.
- Saturday, October 12, 2:30pm
Gamera - Guardian of the Universe (1995)
As flying creatures wreak havoc in Japan, a legendary guardian comes to the archipelago's rescue and forms a special bond with a teenage girl.
- Saturday, October 12, 5:00 PM
Gamera 2 - Assault of the Legion (1996)
A meteorite crashes in Japan, releasing hundreds of insects called "Legion" to colonize the Earth, but the guardian Gamera gets in their way.
- Saturday, October 12, 7.30pm
Gamera 3 - Revenge of Iris (1999)
The Gyaos return to cause panic, while a young orphan, believing Gamera to be responsible for her parents' death, discovers a new creature: Iris.
- Saturday, November 2, 7:30 p.m.
GODZILLA(1998)
The U.S. military is on high alert after a giant lizard, a mutant from French nuclear testing in the Pacific, appears off the coast of New York. This time, it's time for the first Godzilla filmed in Hollywood. The film was directed by Roland Emmerich and written by Dean Devlin, creator of Independence Day.
To enhance this film cycle, the Maison de la culture du Japon is unveiling a small exhibition of kaijû film posters. On view free of charge from September 26 to November 2, 2024, in the reception hall (first floor) of the building. It's an opportunity to discover a selection of Japanese and French posters, objects and photos, mostly from Jean-Baptiste Pujolle's collection.
