Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on July 2010

Fans of classic comedy have something to look forward to as Shin-Bungeiza in Ikebukuro (3F, 1-43-5 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku; www.shin-bungeiza.com) hosts an all-night marathon of films by French director Jacques Tati on July 31. Tati is known for his colorful visual comedies, including his signature film Mon Oncle (1958; pictured), in which the director plays a man with traditional values confounded by an ultra-futuristic house while visiting his nephew in the suburbs of Paris.

The difficult-to-classify film The Beautiful Planet (2010) screens from July 24 at Shibuya’s Image Forum (2-10-2 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku; www.imageforum.co.jp). Director Hiroyuki Nakano, who has made music videos for artists Deee-Lite and Glay, spent over 15 years collecting breathtaking landscape and underwater shots in Hawaii, Bora Bora, Tahiti and other locations. The visuals have been edited together and set to the ambient music of Hiroki Okano and Towa Tei.

Musician, graphic designer and fashion boutique owner Rockin’ Jelly Bean presents his favorite films at a late-show series at Shibuya’s Theater N (24-4 Sakuragicho, Shibuya-ku; www.theater-n.com), July 31-August 6. Jelly Bean is known for his trashy illustrations for the covers of albums by bands such as The 5.6.7.8’s, so it is no surprise that he has lined up some of the sleaziest movies ever made, including American biker-chick exploitation flick She-Devils on Wheels (1968), Japanese rock movie Alleycat Rock: Wild Jumbo (1970) and the animated heavy metal epic Rock & Rule (1983).

Unless noted, Japanese films screen without English subtitles. Non-English-language films are shown with Japanese subtitles only