SANTA CRUZ — Ikeibi Films and the Japanese Cultural Fair of Santa Cruz will present a screening of the feature film “Infinity and Chashu Ramen” at the Rio Theater, 1205 Soquel Ave. in Santa Cruz, on Sunday, Sept. 29.
The film, which was shot entirely in San Francisco’s Japantown, features six interwoven vignettes about life in this sleepy little neighborhood in the heart of the city.
The stories include a man dealing with his widowed father; a couple meeting after 20 years apart; new immigrants being able to communicate despite not knowing a word of the others’ language; and kids waiting in line to see a movie.
The thread that ties these stories together are two unseen, mischievous spirits who wander through people’s lives as they try to keep the universe running smoothly.
The ensemble Asian American cast features 25 speaking roles, headed up by Hiroshi Kashiwagi as a 400-year-old mischievous obake and Wendy Woo as young Nisei woman who stepped right out of the 1930s. Written and directed by Kerwin Berk.
Here’s the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zV46IuZRlOY
The show will begin at 1:30 p.m. with a screening of Berk’s short film “The Virtues of Corned Beef Hash” (starring Kashiwagi and Tim Yamamura), followed by the main presentation and a question-and-answer session with the cast and crew. Doors open at 1 p.m.
Tickets are $12 at the door and $10 at http://infinityandchashuramen.com/tickets/.
Proceeds from the event will benefit the Japanese Cultural Fair, an annual event in Santa Cruz that promotes Japanese art, traditions and music.