In big news for UK anime fans, veteran writer Mari Okada will attend two screenings of her film Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms in April. This is a film which she wrote and directed and it is getting two special screenings ahead of a cinema release in the UK and Ireland on June 27th. Indeed, it’s her debut as a director and Okada will do a live Q&A session at both screenings so go on down to the screenings to find out how it was made and, just as importantly, to make the very talented Mari Okada feel welcome in the UK!
Here are the details:
Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms
さよならの朝に約束の花をかざろう 「Sayonara no Asa ni Yakusoku no Hana wo Kazarou」
Running Time: 115 mins.
Release Date: February 24th, 2018
Director: Mari Okada
Writer: Mari Okada (Screenplay),
Starring: Manaka Iwami (Maquia), Miyu Irino (Ariel), Misaki Kuno (Medmel), Tomokazu Sugita (Izol), Hiroaki Hirata (Barlow), Yoko Hikasa (Dita), Rina Satou (Mido),
Animation Production: P.A. Works
The film is the directorial debut of anime screenwriter Mari Okada (Anthem of the Heart, The Dark Maidens) and it was animated at P.A. Works. It appeared at the recent Glasgow Film Festival and will get a home format release in the UK courtesy of Anime Limited. Mari Okada will also be in British Isles for the Irish Premiere of the film at the Lighthouse Cinema in Dublin on Saturday 14th April at 18:00 (details) as part of the Japan Film Festival Ireland and then a few days later on Monday 16th April for a special screening of the film at the Prince Charles Cinema (details) in London at 18:00.
Synopsis from ANN: The story begins with Maquia, who is from a family where all the members stop ageing in their mid teens. She has no parents and, although her days are peaceful, she feels lonely. Their peace is shattered when an army invades, seeking the secret to her people’s immortality. Leilia, the most beautiful girl in her clan, is taken away, and the boy Maquia has secret feelings for disappears. Maquia is able to escape, but she loses her friends and her home. Wandering alone in the forest, she finds Erial, a baby boy who has lost his parents. The story follows the changing relationship between the two as Erial grows up and Maquia does not.
When I was a kid and watching anime, it was rare to have guests come over as frequently as they do now so it’s important for anime fans to appreciate the effort that Mari Okada and Anime Limited are making for these event. Full details can be found on the Anime Limited website since they are handling distribution. Details. Please make her feel welcome!