A very engaging samurai narrative that does not only offer an intriguing glance at one of the most important crossroads of Japanese history, but also a melodramatic exploration of one subject’s function in it.
Category: Historical
Sanka: Nomads of the Mountains (2022) review [OAFF 2022]
“A visually enticing narrative that elegantly explores the unresolvable tension between the societal Other and the subject.”
Talking The Pictures (2019) review [Japan Cuts 2021]
“Masayuki’s celebration of cinematic history deeply satisfies the spectator’s desire to see cinema as an experience that can touch our being and the art of the benshi triumph.”
Blind Bombing, Filmed by a Bat (2019) review [Japan Cuts 2020]
Introduction Kota Takeuchi is man of many creative talents, but whatever he does – be it painting, filming, or sculpting – it is related to historical or contemporary topics. He is most renowned as being the representative of the man of the iconic webcam performance Finger Pointing Worker (2011). In his latest short, he explores…
Wife of A Spy (2020) review
A tremendous achievement [that succeeds in calling] forth orth certain (indigestible) truths concerning the Japanese imperialistic Other.
Black Rain (1989) review
Imamura’s ‘Black Rain’ is, without a doubt, one of the most important films about the atomic bomb ever made and should be mandatory viewing for anyone who holds the promise of world peace dear.
Crazy Samurai Musashi (2020) review [Fantasia 2020]
“Sakaguchi reveals that what truly stirs the imagination of the spectator is not shining special effects, but true skill and physicality of the actor’s presence.”
Labyrinth of Cinema (2019) review [IFFR 2020]
“Not only the most important movie made by Obayashi but also the most important Japanese movie of the last decade.”
Samurai Marathon (2019) review
“A somewhat atypically packaged jidai-geki, that provides everything one should expect of a contemporary mainstream jidai-geki.”
Organ (2018) review
“A narrative that, when all is said and done, fails to realize its potential to move the spectator. “
Dare to Stop us (2018) review
“Hiraishi beautifully and touchingly evokes that cinema can always fails one’s subjective struggle. “
The Chrysanthemum and The Guillotine (2018) review
“Zeze movingly reveals that the ground for true revolution should be love and its goal the realization of that place where a woman can realize her agency as subject.”
psycho-cinematography 