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S.W.O.R.D.

S.W.O.R.D. To Screen Kurosawa’s Rashomon

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936full-rashomon-poster1On Saturday Nov. 16th, 2013 at 2 PM, the South West Ohio Recreation and Defense School (S.W.O.R.D) will present the acclaimed film Rashomon by acclaimed film maker Akira Kurosawa.  This 1950 movie introduced the world to Japanese Cinema and won film awards around the globe.

Rashomon concerns various viewpoints of what happened when a samurai is killed and his wife gets raped by a bandit during Japan’s feudal period.  The story is told from the viewpoint of the bandit (played by the great Toshiro Mifune),  a woodcutter, a priest, a constable, the wife and even from the point of view of the dead samurai husband as his spirit speaks through a medium.

Through out the entertaining story, Kurosawa explores the idea of subjective truth.

Rashomon made international stars of out Toshiro Mifune (known as the John Wayne of Japan), Takashi Shimura (known as the Lawrence Olivier of Japan) and Kurosawa, himself.

There will also be a discussion by Film Historian Richard Martin about the history behind the film. Admission to the event is $10 and popcorn and soda are provided. Other refreshments are available for purchase.

2013 marks the 70th anniversary of the first film solely directed by Akira Kurosawa, arguably the greatest film director ever according to many film critics’ lists.

Each month another film by Akira Kurosawa will be shown at S.W.O.R.D.  This screening, and all other films, will also present a lecture by film historian Rick Martin.

Akira Kurosawa was the first Japanese film director to have his movies win major international awards outside of Japan following World War II.  His movies broke new grounds in terms of visuals and storytelling and helped bridge the cultural divide between East and West.  Many of his movies have been remade as westerns such as The Magnificent 7 and even science fiction such as Star Wars which was an outer space retelling of 1958’s The Hidden Fortress.  In 1989, Kurosawa won a Lifetime Achievement Academy Award and the Director’s Guild of America.  In 1999, posthumously, he won the Asian of the Century Award from CNN.

This continuing event will mark the first time in the Dayton area that all of Kurosawa’s films will be screened in order for the public.  Each monthly screening will be on the third Saturday of each month at 2 PM.   Upcoming screenings will include The 7 Samurai, Ikiru, Yojimbo, Do Desu Ka Den, Kagemusha and RAN.

For more information, please call S.W.O.R.D. at 937-223-5569 or look up S.W.O.R.D. on Facebook.

 

S.W.O.R.D. To Hold Charity Fencing Tournament

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644168_431850903556281_1243054666_nA fencing and epee tournament benefitting Saint Jude’s will be held on November 9, 2013 at S.W.O.R.D. at 813 Leo Street in Dayton, Ohio.  The event will start at 10 AM with a 9 AM registration time for participants.

S.W.O.R.D. is the South Western Ohio Recreation and Defense School started in 2012 in order to serve the Dayton community of martial artists and has expanded over the year to serve the Dayton dance community as well as providing a venue for banquets, film festivals and film classes.

Fencing has long standing roots going back thousands of years but was codified in the form that is known now across the world in the late 17th Century.  The form developed to allow combat exercises with a sword that were not necessarily deadly but still utilized the same sword combat forms.  Epee is a modification of the fencing tradition which does away with some of the more esoteric rules found in traditional fencing.

The tournament is open to participants who are class C and below as ranked by the USFA rating system.  But you don’t need to be a fencer to attend – the general public is welcome to observe the action.

The price of admission for competitors is $25.00 for one weapon or $40 for two weapons.  There is no admission fee for attending to observe the event.  Prizes for the competitors include USFA rating standings and trophies. Food and drinks are available for purchase during the daylong event.

For more information on this event and S.W.O.R.D. please contact William DeVan, founder of S.W.O.R.D., at 937-223-5569.  More information is also available at S-W-O-R-D.com or on Facebook at SWORDayton.