Japan

  • Nobuo Nakagawa – Jigoku AKA Hell (1960)

    1951-1960AsianHorrorJapanNobuo Nakagawa

    A group of sinners involved in interconnected tales of murder, revenge, deceit and adultery all meet at the Gates of Hell.Read More »

  • Jun Ichikawa – Tôkyô kyôdai AKA Tokyo Siblings (1995)

    Jun Ichikawa1991-2000ArthouseDramaJapan

    Quote:
    The film centers on a brother and sister who live in their family’s traditional Japanese house long after both of their parents have died. Kenichi (Naoto Ogata), who is in his twenties, works in a used bookstore while his sister, Yoko (Urara Awata), who has just finished up high school, dutifully takes care of the house. Since his parents are dead, Kenichi is serious about looking after his underaged sister. He even spurns his girlfriend — another clerk at the same bookstore — because she wants to get married before Yoko comes of age. On Yoko’s end, she longs to break out and be free. One day, she brings home a bumptious freelance photographer (Toru Tezuka) whose crude ways do not impress the conservative Kenichi. In spite of this — of perhaps because of this — Yoko beds him and soon is spending more and more time with the lad. With his orderly life coming apart at the seams, will Kenichi be able to get his sister back? ~ Jonathan CrowRead More »

  • Shiori Kazama – Sekai no owari AKA World’s End Girlfriend (2005)

    2001-2010ComedyDramaJapanJapanese Female DirectorsShiori Kazama

    Quote:
    Shinnosuke (Kiyohiko Shibukawa) and Misawa (Keishi Nagatsuka) are joint managers of a Bonsai shop. Suddenly Shinnosuke’s childhood friend Haruko (Mami Nakamura) turns up. She has split up with her boyfriend and finds herself out on the streets. Shinnosuke starts to like Haruko and really wants to cheer her up, but he can’t manage to express his real feelings or stop picking up other women. Misawa is dumbfounded by Shinnosuke’s behavior but also has complex feelings of love for his friend. Haruko realizes that Shinnosuke is falling in love with her but she pretends not to notice in order to keep the peace between the friends. Then one day Shinnosuke suddenly blurts out his feelings for Haruko, but she has just hooked up with another man. Haruko moves out of the shop and in with the man, but then his wife returns and Haruko finds herself out on the streets again. Shinnosuke has to start cheering her up all over again.Read More »

  • Koji Yamamura – Ikuta no kita AKA Dozens of Norths (2021)

    2021-2030AnimationArthouseJapanKoji Yamamura

    North is everywhere solitary. Here is all North. This is a record of the people I met in these Norths. However, my memory is fragmented and does not get the point at all. Now I’m starting to wonder my efforts came to nothing. I’m just getting the occasional recognition of the existence of the world through the dull pain changes shape little by little.
    (Source: Official website)Read More »

  • Norifumi Suzuki – Torakku yarô: Goiken muyô AKA Trucker Yaro: No One Can Stop Me AKA Fireball On Highway (1975)

    1971-1980ActionComedyJapanNorifumi Suzuki

    A pair of truckers show off their driving skills to each other while evading pursuing law enforcement.Read More »

  • Shingo Wakagi – Shirakawa yofune AKA Asleep (2015)

    Japan2011-2020DramaEroticaShingo Wakagi

    SYNOPSIS
    Terako (Sakura Ando) is a young woman without a job. She has an affair with Iwanaga (Arata Iura) who is married. His wife is in a coma. One day, Terako’s friend kills herself. After that, Terako sleeps all day long and wakes up only when Iwanaga calls her.Read More »

  • Yutaka Ohgi – Passions of a Private Secretary (2008)

    Drama2001-2010EroticaJapanYutaka Ohgi

    Inspired by the work of Japanese eroticist Oniroku Dan, this scintillating thriller follows the career trajectory of an executive secretary as she ascends the latter of success and has a chance encounter with an ex-colleague. Before long, she’s fallen into a dangerous world of taboo sex and sadomasochism.Read More »

  • Banmei Takahashi – Doa AKA Door (1988)

    1981-1990Banmei TakahashiHorrorJapanThriller

    A young housewife is not having a good day. Her husband is never home, the rent is late, her kid has caught the flu, and now – someone’s at her door. It’s a salesman, trying to pawn off some stupid thing or other. There’s no time to deal with it. Just tell him to go to hell, to peddle his goods someplace else. And then, when he doesn’t listen, she slams the door in his face. Or more accurately, on his hand. And this guy is pissed. The psycho salesman decides to teach her a lesson. He starts making phone threats. Soon the sick bastard has mustered enough guts to break into her apartment. He savagely torments mommy and child until the woman finally turns the tables… -Thomas Weisser, “Japanese Cinema: Essential Handbook”Read More »

  • Masato Hara – MI TA RI! (2002)

    2001-2010DocumentaryExperimentalJapanMasato Hara

    Quote:
    Film director Masato Hara welcomes MAORI as a partner and begins a new life. The two of us routinely turn the 8mm camera and make songs while the days go by. The time between the two will soon be the time for the three with their newborn eldest son, KOBOH. And a small family trip. Head south from Kyoto to Hiroshima, Kyushu, and Okinawa. Put enough luggage, shooting equipment and accordion in a small car.Read More »

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