The Embassy of Japan in Nepal and Japan Foundation organised the Japanese Film Festival on March 25 and 26 at National Theatre, Jamal. March 25 also marked Japan Day. The programme featured unique things from Japanese culture, such as donning Japanese clothing such as yukata and happi coats, calligraphy writing, origami making, and playing traditional games on the venue grounds. Visitors could also take photos in a Japanese-style photo booth at the site. The best part of the event was that you could see the movies while dressed in Japanese attire.

“The Japanese Cinema Festival is a yearly event hosted by the embassy. The purpose of this film festival is to share Japanese culture and cinema with the Nepali audience,” said the cultural secretary at the Japanese Embassy in Nepal. The Japanese Film Festival 2023 was also held in Pokhara in February. The festival screened ten films in Pokhara and Kathmandu and was a huge success, receiving an overwhelming response from the audience. Sinbad was one of the films screened at this year’s festival.

Regardless of your age, some films revive the youthful zest and passion you once had. Sinbad was one such film that brought back memories of my hopeful childhood when movies inspired and instilled adventurous dreams in me. The movie is loosely based on ‘The One Thousand and One Nights’ and tells the story of Sinbad, a young boy who lives with his mother, Latifa, in an unnamed Middle Eastern seaside city. The boy’s father was a sailor who was never seen again after leaving on a voyage. Sinbad makes a living by selling fish in the local market, but deep down, he longs to be a sailor, exploring the oceans to discover what lies beyond the horizon. Sinbad comes across a strange sight one day–a girl riding a flying horse pursued by men on flying carpets. The men appear to be malicious, and the girl is fleeing. Sinbad is noticed by Captain Razzak while attempting to rescue the girl, who introduces him to the crew of the ship, the Behr, cabin boy Ali, first mate Najib and other members.

Meeting the crew members of the Behr strengthens Sinbad’s resolve to become a sailor, and he embarks on a journey. The fates of Sinbad and the mysterious flying girl entwine once more. The crew takes the helpless girl in, and she reveals her identity as Sana, the last princess of the sorcerers. Captain Razzak promises to take Sana to the long-lost land where the sorcerers first appeared. However, there are those who wish to prevent Sana from ever reaching her goal, and Sinbad swears that he will assist Sana in reaching her goal—even if it means never seeing her again.

Sinbad is actually part of a trilogy titled ‘The Sinbad Trilogy’: ‘A Flying Princess and A Secret Island’, ‘The Magic Lamp and the Moving Islands’and ‘Night at High Noon and the Wonder Gate.’ The plot develops organically across all three films, with each film picking up where the previous one left off. Sinbad, the movie shown in the festival, is actually a mix of all three films.

The film’s plot is inspired by the popular story of Sinbad the Sailor from the popular Middle Eastern folk anthology ‘One Thousand and One Nights’. It’s interesting to see how these characters inspired by the Middle East are communicating so seamlessly in Japanese. The story is a lighthearted adventure animation that is suitable for younger audiences as well as anyone looking for a comfort movie. While the story is enjoyable in its own right, the background art and creature designs elevate this trilogy. The characters have unique designs that give a lot of authenticity to the plot. The visual aspect of the film was stunning, with consistent and beautiful animation. The film talks of the archvillain Galpi who wishes to misuse ‘magical science’ developed by Sana’s parents. Magical science is mentioned frequently in the film, and the plot contains many elements of magical realism.

The creatures in the movie are quite imaginative–flying wooden horses, fishes that carry islands on their back, and mammoths. Historical locations like Petra and ancient Greece have inspired the sorcerers’ dwellings, and the animated scenery was indeed beautiful. What will keep you hooked throughout the end is the film’s impeccable soundtrack. The music playing in the background of each scene adds a lot of life to the animated characters. Whether an action-packed sequence or an emotional confrontation, the film has music befitting each scene.

Speaking of the drawbacks, the movie does feel a bit stretched, and for someone who does not enjoy animated films, it can also get boring at times. Although the plot is simple and easy to follow, it will often feel like a heterogeneous mixture of One Piece, Alladin and Doraemon. The film has a silly, slapstick kind of humour, which might not be everybody’s cup of tea. If you are looking for a deep, introspective film that will make you think for hours, Sinbad may not be for you. But, if you are searching for a refreshing break from all the complexities in life, the film will give you a back-to-school experience. The film had English subtitles—if you are not used to watching movies with subtitles, you will miss a lot of punch lines. Overall, Sinbad was a good experience. It will rejuvenate your childhood memories while teaching you a simple yet profound lesson of never giving up on your dreams and chasing them against all odds.

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SINBAD

Language: Japanese

Subtitle: English

Duration: 114 minutes

Genre: Animation, adventure

Director: Shinpei Miyashita

Studio: Nippon Animation

Released: 2015, 2016