The Japan Cultural Exchange Centre in Vietnam will host a free film screening at the National Cinema Centre on Mar. 16-18 to mark the first anniversary of Japan’s Fukushima earthquake and tsunami (Mar. 11).

The event will show four disaster-related films, including the “Quartet” (2012), which was filmed in Urayasu, a city affected by severe soil liquefaction during the March 11 earthquake and the 2010’s “Haru’s Journey,” which is about the elderly’s problems and provides a look at Japanese culture through its themes of acceptance, endurance and familial commitment.

Also screening are the 2011 documentary “Fukushima Hula girls”, which tells about the struggle of a group of hula dancers from “Spa Resort Hawaiians” to overcome the terrible disaster and re-open the facility in tsunami-hit Iwaki city of Fukushima province; and “Rock: Wanko’s island” (2011), which tells the true story of a family from the small island of Miyakejima who had to abandon their beloved dog, Rock, when a massive volcanic eruption in August 2000 forced all residents to evacuate the island.

The Japanese have had a long history of facing many disasters like earthquake and tsunami. These events are an inspiration for Japanese filmmakers to produce attractive and touching disaster-related films.

The centre expresses its hope that the four films will help audiences remember the Fukushima earthquake and respect the value of life.

All films will have Vietnamese and English subtitles. Free tickets will be available at the Japan Cultural Exchange Centre, 27 Quang Trung, Hoan Kiem from Mar. 9.-VNA