“Mothra” @ FLMNH (July 8)

The Florida Museum of Natural History’s “Creative B” summer film series features entertaining science fiction films and roundtable discussions by scholars, scientists, and artists.

To celebrate the installation at UF of several large insect sculptures by artist Nobuho Nagasawa, this summer’s series begins on July 8 with Ishirō Honda’s 1961 film Mothra. Among Toho Studio’s best-loved kaijū eiga (giant monster movies), the film was written by famed Toho screenwriter Shinichi Sekizawa, and stars Frankie Sakai, Kyoto Kagawa, Hiroshi Koizumi, and Emi and Yumi Itō as the “Shobijin” (“small beauties”), the tiny objects of Mothra’s oversized devotion. Noteworthy for its sympathetic treatment of the monster and of the Infant Island victims of nuclear testing, the film is a family-friendly classic of the kaijū genre.

The evening’s events will begin with a reception from 6–7 PM. The screening will be preceded and followed by a roundtable discussion featuring:

• Ian Breheny – Museum Operations Specialist at the FLMNH, and co-founder of the film series
• Terry Harpold – Associate Professor of English, Film & Media Studies at UF
• Tim Lawrence – Special effects artist and concept sculptor
• Nobuho Nagasawa – Professor and MFA Graduate Program Director, Stony Brook University
• Allysa Browne Peyton – Assistant Curator of Asian Art, Harn Museum of Art

Mothra is unrated and is suitable viewing for all audiences.

On July 15, beginning at 7 PM, the series will continue with Roger Corman’s comedy horror film The Little Shop of Horrors (1960).

All “Creative B” events are free and open to the public.