The film focuses on the eccentric Haruno family.

Sachiko (Maya Banno) is bothered by a giant version of herself.

VIZ Pictures, an affiliate of VIZ Media LLC that focuses on Japanese live-action film distribution, has announced a special Bay Area theatrical run of the critically acclaimed and award winning film “The Taste of Tea,” from writer/director Katsuhito Ishii.

Ishii also directed “Shark Skin Man and Peach Hip Girl,” “Party Seven,” and the lavish animated portion of Quentin Tarantino’s “Kill Bill: Vol. 1.”

“The Taste of Tea” will screen in San Francisco beginning on Friday, Oct. 5, at the 4 Star Theatre on Clement and 23rd Avenue in the Richmond District.

Known as “Cha no Aji” in Japan, the film has been called a surreal version of Ingmar Bergman’s “Fanny and Alexander,” and presents a homage to Japanese family life. The film made its international debut at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival and won numerous awards at the 2004 Entrevues Film Festival, 2005 Montreal Fantasia Film Festival, 2005 New York Asian Film Festival, 2005 San Francisco Independent Film Festival, and 2005 Brussels International Festival of Fantastic Film.

“The Taste of Tea” introduces audiences to the Harunos, a rather unconventional but happy and loving family. They live in a small town in the mountains just outside of Tokyo, where life is good and quiet — but that doesn’t mean they don’t have their own quirks and little problems.

There is 8-year old Sachiko (Maya Banno), who is bothered at inopportune moments by a giant-sized double of herself who hangs around sitting on buildings staring at her.

Her older brother Hajime (Takahiro Sato) privately wrestles with raging hormones and a love-struck heart after the arrival of a pretty new classmate (played by Amerasian actress Anna Tsuchiya, also seen in “Kamikaze Girls”).

The mother works hard to come out of retirement as an animator, and the father, who watches her attempts with apprehension, is a professional hypnotist who occasionally plies his trade on his own family with often funny results.

An uncle (played by Tadanobu Asano of “Ichi the Killer”) comes to visit and stays with the family, but he has a hidden agenda as he comes to terms with a romance that ended years ago.

Another uncle, who is a successful manga artist, also stops by with his own dramas. It’s his birthday soon, and he wants to give himself something special.

And lastly there’s Grandpa, the most eccentric and perhaps the most perceptive of all, who continues to search for a better way to live life to the fullest.

All of these dramas are presented with rich visual imagery and allegories as an animated train emerges from someone’s head, giant sunflowers bloom, and orange-clad dancers appear from nowhere.

“ ‘The Taste of Tea’ has been very well received by audiences in its previous theatrical runs in New York, Portland, Chicago and Seattle and we are excited to now present this award winning film to Bay Area audiences,” says Seiji Horibuchi, president and CEO of VIZ Pictures.

“The film captures all the eccentricities and beauty of Japanese family life, presented in visually captivating way by director Katsuhito Ishii. I invite Bay Area cinema fans of all stripes to attend and enjoy this uniquely quirky and heartwarming story.”

For more information, call the 4 Star Theatre at (415) 666-3488 or visit www.hkinsf.com/4star.

Based in San Francisco, VIZ Pictures distributes Japanese live-action films and DVDs, with particular focus on Japanese “kawaii” (cute and cool) pop culture. It approaches each film release from a J-pop fan’s point of view.

“The Taste of Tea” is the third VIZ Pictures title following “Train Man: Densha Otoko” and “Linda Linda Linda.” The company will continue to offer the most entertaining live-action motion pictures straight from the “Kingdom of Pop” for audiences of all ages in North America.

VIZ Pictures is an affiliate of VIZ Media, the San Francisco-based leading U.S. publisher of Japanese manga (comics) and merchandise licensor of Japanese animation such as the popular “Naruto” TV series.

VIZ Media is one of the most comprehensive and innovative companies in the field of manga publishing, animation and entertainment licensing of Japanese content.

Owned by three of Japan’s largest creators and licensors of manga and animation, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan Production Co. Ltd. (ShoPro Japan), VIZ Media is a leader in the publishing and distribution of Japanese manga for English-speaking audiences in North America and a global licensor of Japanese manga and animation.

The company offers an integrated product line including magazines such as Shonen Jump and Shojo Beat, graphic novels, videos, DVDs and audio soundtracks, and develops and markets animated entertainment from initial production to television placement and distribution, to merchandise licensing and promotions for audiences and consumers of all ages.

Contact VIZ Media at 295 Bay St., San Francisco 94133; (415) 546-7073 or 546-7086 (fax); or www.VIZ.com.

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