The Hughes-Trigg Theater will turn into a venue somewhat like the Angelika Film Center this weekend as the SMU Japan Club plays independent Japanese films as part of its annual Japanese Film Festival.

SMU’s Japan Club provides an outlet for people on campus interested in Japanese culture to mingle and learn from one another. Members enjoy events such as eating at ethnic restaurants, bowling and a fall carnival.

Its annual film festival is a way for members to network with other Japanese culture enthusiasts outside of SMU while educating the surrounding community about Asian culture.

According to Keiko Schneider, a Japanese teacher at SMU and chair of the Japanese Film Festival committee, the festival has impacted locals in a remarkable way since local high school students who attend the festival ended up wanting to study Japanese under Schneider at SMU.

Friday and Saturday night are the last days of the film festival. The Japan Club also showcased movies last weekend.

Tonight, the movie shown will be an action flick called “Zatoichi.” “Zatoichi” is about a 19th century, blind wanderer who earns a living as a gambler and masseur. Zatoichi also happens to be a master samurai warrior who finds himself running from a ruthless gang leader.

On Saturday, the featured movie is a romantic comedy based on true events. “Densho Otoko” tells the story of a computer engineer who has never been kissed and rescues a pretty woman from a molester on a train. He consequently seeks a popular dating website for advice on girls.

Schneider says the festival is in its fifth year, and this year seems to be one of the best yet.

“There was finally enough funding to rent the [Hughes-Trigg] theater this year, and thus the movies can be shown how they were meant to be shown- on a huge screen,” Schneider said.

Both movies start at 6:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

For more information call Keiko Schneider at 214-768-3143 or email her at [email protected].