As a former subscriber to the Movie Malingerer Movement, an organization dedicated to bringing obscure foreign films to the attention of sloths and other disorganized persons who never get to the right film festivals, the Weekly Volcano appreciates subtitles. (Sometimes we wonder why British sitcoms don't have them, since we typically got about one in every 12 of the insults that Edina and Patsy traded on episodes of "AbFab," but as usual we digress.)

Anyway, "Shinobi,” which opens the Tacoma Pierce County Sister Cities 6th Annual International Film & Food Festival Feb. 7, is probably just as violent even without the Japanese subtitles. It’s the story about two Shinobi tribal villages that each send five of their great warriors to battle until death. Neat.

The International Food & Film Festival program pulls together movies from each of Tacoma’s sister countries and offers nights of all things cultural that include music, dancing, talks, food and film screenings. The events run at the Blue Mouse Theatre, which seats about 220. Most, if not all, of those seats will be filled during the 12-night run of the festival.

When: Feb. 7-April 7, every Thursday, doors at 5:45 p.m.

Where: Blue Mouse Theatre, North 26th and North Proctor, Tacoma, 253.752.9500

Tickets: $18 available at:
     Northwest Shop: 2702 N. Proctor, 253.752.2242
    Blue Mouse Theatre: North 26th and North Proctor, 253.752.9500
Buy a pass online and save 20 percent.

LINK: food.org">Tacoma Film & Food