VIZ Pictures just announced that it will be screening Ping Pong in three cities this spring. Based on a popular manga by Taiyo Matsumoto, Ping Pong might best be described as Prince of Table Tennis–that is, a shonen sports comedy that freely mixes slapstick, melodrama, and lots of shop-talk about the fine art of ping pong:
Best friends “Peco” Hoshino and “Smile” Tsukimoto have been playing ping pong since they were little kids. While the unique and brazen Peco plays to win and loves the sport, the quiet and introverted Smile thinks of it as just a way to kill time with friends, and only plays because he idolizes Peco. While Smile is the more talented player, he frequently and intentionally loses to Peco out of a misguided sense of friendship. However, after Peco is badly beaten by his rival, Dragon, in an important inter-high school tournament he suddenly quits the game leaving Smile to become the newest ping pong celebrity. He begins training hard for the next championship, waiting for the return of his hero and best friend, whom he is destined to meet in one last match.
The film was directed by Fumihiko Sori, and was nominated for eight Japanese Academy Awards in 2003 including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Cinematography. I haven’t seen the film, but I’m guessing those ping pong tournament montages are worthy of a David Lean epic. For more information on Ping Pong, click here.
Live in New York, Chicago, or Seattle? Then you’re in luck! Ping Pong will be playing at a theater near you in April or May:
NEW YORK
The Imaginasian
239 East 59th St.
New York 10022
April 6– April 12, 2007
CHICAGO
Facets Cinematheque
1517 West Fullerton Avenue
Chicago, IL 60614
April 27 -May 3, 2007
SEATTLE
Grand Illusion Cinema
1403 NE 50th St
Seattle, WA 98105
May 25– May 31, 2007
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