A Second February 2026 Film News Miscellany

Why have one monthly film round-up when you can have two?

Third Window are continuing their New Directors from Japan series, this time with four films that make up Takashi Ono's I Am Baseball and other Showa-inspired stories. Only a thousand copies are being printed so get yours today. 

Takashi Ono’s I Am Baseball was released in Tokyo’s Cinema Rosa on August 19th, 2023.
Cinema Rosa has been the current mecca for independent Japanese cinema and the birthplace of such successes as One Cut of the Dead and A Samurai in Time. I Am Baseball was a huge hit there, so much so that it continued to play in Japanese cinemas for more than one year, earning its tag of a “rongu-ran” film (Long Run - A film or play that is well-received and continues to be performed for a long period of time). Despite his very young age and lack of proper budgets, Takashi Ono’s style in I Am Baseball and his earlier student films recreate the late Showa Era (1950s-80s) in a fun and charming way, and are explored in this limited edition set of four films from the director:

I Am Baseball (2023 - 60 minutes) 
Pick it up and Throw it Away!  (2019 - 45 minutes)
Fashion Runner (2018 - 9 minutes)
Cheating Office Lady: Wet Galaxy (2016 - 40 minutes) 

Check out the trailer for I Am Baseball:

Though I may not be the biggest streamer of films the Arrow Player has some interesting films coming to it in March, some of which are also Third Window releases.

March 6th they are streaming Sogo Ishii's The Crazy Family, then the week after from the 13th psychological horror, New Religion will be available. Remember these are still available from Third Window as Blu-rays, and if you like New Religion then the Blu-ray also includes the short film follow-up Neu Mirrors, which is superb.

The final Arrow streaming gem arriving on the 27th is Happy End. A late 90's Korean Thriller, I don't think this ever saw the light of day in the UK and only ever available via import. So a rare chance to catch the film.