2021 Japanese animated film Belle (竜とそばかすの姫) to remain in Pittsburgh through at least February 3.

The 2021 Japanese animated film Belle (竜とそばかすの姫), which opened in Pittsburgh on January 12, will stay here through at least February 3. From the distributor:

From the celebrated Academy Award®-nominated director Mamoru Hosoda and Studio Chizu, creators of Mirai, Wolf Children, Summer Wars, and more, comes a fantastical, heartfelt story of growing up in the age of social media.

Suzu is a shy, everyday high school student living in a rural village. For years, she has only been a shadow of herself. But when she enters “U”, a massive virtual world, she escapes into her online persona as Belle, a gorgeous and globally-beloved singer. One day, her concert is interrupted by a monstrous creature chased by vigilantes. As their hunt escalates, Suzu embarks on an emotional and epic quest to uncover the identity of this mysterious “beast” and to discover her true self in a world where you can be anyone.

Belle was the top movie in Japan for three weeks over the summer and was the second-highest grossing film in Japan for 2021. It will play locally the AMC Loews Waterfront, at the local Cinemark theaters, and several other theaters in the Pittsburgh area, and tickets are available online. Please note that some shows are dubbed in English while others are in Japanese with English subtitles.

2021 Japanese film Drive My Car (ドライブ・マイ・カー) to remain in Pittsburgh through February 10.

The acclaimed 2021 Japanese film Drive My Car (ドライブ・マイ・カー) which opened in Pittsburgh on January 20, will remain at the Harris Theater through February 10. A brief synospis from a December 7 NPR review:

The story follows a middle-aged Tokyo stage actor named Kafuku, superbly played by Hidetoshi Nishijima. He's a calm, mild-mannered guy who's been married for two decades to a screenwriter named Oto. We get a sense of their mutual devotion when we see Kafuku driving around in his bright red Saab, rehearsing his lines by listening to audio tapes that Oto has painstakingly recorded for him.

But their relationship is more complicated than it appears. Years ago, Kafuku and Oto experienced an agonizing loss that has led her to find solace — and perhaps something more — in relationships with other men. Kafuku has deep compassion for his wife, which doesn't make her betrayal any less painful. And then another tragedy strikes when Oto dies suddenly.

The Harris Theater is located in downtown's Cultural District (map), and tickets are available online or at the door.

A selection of Lunar New Year's deals at local restaurants and groceries in February.

A stack of flyers from CASTP (中国旅美科技协会-匹兹堡分会) advertising a Lunar New Year Gala were at Chengdu Gourmet the other day, and while it's too late to register for the January 22nd event, people can still take advantage of the Lunar New Years deals at several local restaurants and establishments in February. These include: 

Fantuan - 10% off for new users through February 15. Food delivery app. 

Lotus Food - 10% off from February 3 through 10. Located in the Strip District. 

Little Asia - 10% off, dine-in only, from February 3 through 17. Located in Oakland.  

芋见BAO - 10% off, dine-in only, from February 3 through 17. Located in Oakland. 

Yue Bai Wei - 10% off, dine-in only, from February 3 through 17. Located in Squirrel Hill.

Chengdu Gourmet - 10% off, dine-in only, from February 3 through 17 

Dagu Rice Noodle - 10% off, dine-in only, from February 3 through 17 

Fujiya Ramen - 10% off, dine-in only, from February 3 through 17. Located in Shadyside. 

Alash Ensemble Tuvan Throat Singers, March 27 at Spirit Lounge.

The Alash Ensemble Tuvan Throat Singers will perform in Pittsburgh on March 27.

Alash are masters of Tuvan throat singing (xöömei), a remarkable technique for singing multiple pitches at the same time. What distinguishes this gifted trio from earlier generations of Tuvan throat singers is the subtle infusion of modern influences into their traditional music. One can find complex harmonies, western instruments, and contemporary song forms in Alash’s music, but its overall sound and spirit remain decidedly Tuvan.

Tickets for the show at Spirit in Lawrenceville (map) are now available online.

Lunar New Year Celebration 2022 at Pitt, February 2.

via traveloriented.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center and Global Hub will host a Lunar New Year Celebration on February 2.

Join the Asian Studies Center and Global Hub for a Lunar New Year celebration in honor of the Year of the Tiger! Come for some light refreshments, crafts, a photobooth, performances, and more.

It runs from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm in the Global Hub on the first floor of Posvar Hall, and is free and open to members of the Pitt community who follow the university's COVID-19 safety protocols.

Thao performing in Pittsburgh, March 23.

Singer-songwriter Thao will perform at Mr. Smalls Theatre on Wednesday, March 23. American Songwriter wrote of her latest album last fall:

The artist brought [. . .] feelings of vibrancy and clarity to the new Temple Deluxe Edition. To make the lush new bonus songs, which are themselves overflowing with thoughtful string arrangements, Nguyen recruited a friend of hers in Seattle. It was a collaboration that started during the pandemic. Nguyen needed strings for a Tiny Desk recording and, for that, she tapped two cello-playing neighbors and arranger Alex Guy. And so when Nguyen needed strings for the deluxe release, she asked Guy, who helped happily.

“It was a chance to highlight the lyrical content of these songs,” Nguyen says. “And the emotions behind them. With full rock band arrangements, which I love, different attentions are paid in different ways. For these songs, I wanted to highlight their emotional bones.”

Doors open at 7:00 pm and tickets for the all-ages show are available online starting at $20. Mr. Smalls Theatre is located at 400 Lincoln Ave. in Millvale (map)

1957 Akira Kurosawa film Throne of Blood (蜘蛛巣城) at Row House Cinema, from February 11.

1957 Akira Kurosawa film Throne of Blood (蜘蛛巣城) will play at the Row House Cinema from February 11, part of a Shakespeare film series.

Akira Kurosawa retells Macbeth by replacing lords and kings with samurai and emperors in this rendition set in medieval Japan. Brutal, suspenseful, and visually stunning — this is by far one of the best Shakespeare adaptations ever made for the screen.

Ticket and showtime information is available online. The single-screen theater is located at 4115 Butler Street in Lawrenceville (map).

Japanese film Sing a Bit of Harmony (アイの歌声を聴かせて) in Pittsburgh, January 23 and 25.

The 2021 Japanese film Sing a Bit of Harmony (アイの歌声を聴かせて) will play in Pittsburgh on January 23 and 25. A synopsis from the distributor:

Satomi is fine being alone until an AI named Shion joins her class with a song and a promise to make her happy. While Shion’s musical numbers and princess gowns don’t quite pass as human, her antics bring Satomi closer to four other classmates. Together, they make memories worth saving, but even our most precious data can be erased.

It plays locally at the Cinemark theater in the North Hills, and tickets are available online; the screening on the 23rd is in Japanese with English subtitles, while the screening on the 25th is dubbed in English.

2021 Japanese film Drive My Car (ドライブ・マイ・カー) at Harris Theater, January 20 through 27.

The acclaimed 2021 Japanese film Drive My Car (ドライブ・マイ・カー) will play at the Harris Theater from January 20 through 27, 2022. A brief synospis from a December 7 NPR review:

The story follows a middle-aged Tokyo stage actor named Kafuku, superbly played by Hidetoshi Nishijima. He's a calm, mild-mannered guy who's been married for two decades to a screenwriter named Oto. We get a sense of their mutual devotion when we see Kafuku driving around in his bright red Saab, rehearsing his lines by listening to audio tapes that Oto has painstakingly recorded for him.

But their relationship is more complicated than it appears. Years ago, Kafuku and Oto experienced an agonizing loss that has led her to find solace — and perhaps something more — in relationships with other men. Kafuku has deep compassion for his wife, which doesn't make her betrayal any less painful. And then another tragedy strikes when Oto dies suddenly.

It will play at the Harris Theater in downtown's Cultural District (map), and tickets are available online or at the door.

UPMC hiring bilingual Chinese-English Manager of Marketing Communications.

UPMC his hiring a bilingual Chinese-English Manger of Marketing Communications.

Description

UPMC International is seeking a Marketing Manager to support our China business. 

Overview:

In this role, you will develop and implement offline and digital projects directed to educate and inform potential patients, physicians, and partners for UPMC International. Supervise and provide guidance to design or production staff, to fulfill marketing and communication goals related to internal and external audiences. Responsible for the planning, development, production, and brand consistency of projects and of all levels, in support of UPMC's mission and vision and in alignment with business objectives.