Maybe I shouldn’t have been surprised/disappointed that a film with this title revolved primarily around the experiences of a group of men.
Continue readingA Man (ある男) (2022)
StandardTag Archives: Japan
Immersion (きかいじま) (2023)
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Thanks Lowell for telling me to lower my expectations with this Gen Alpha meets ancient Japanese grudges J-horror.
Continue readingCitizen Kitano (Citizen K) (2020)
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I feel a bit ashamed to say that I can’t remember if I’ve ever seen a film by Takeshi Kitano. I feel that surely I have seen Hana-Bi (1998) or Zatoichi (2003) but from the glimpses in this interesting short documentary by Yves Montmayeur, none really stand out.
Continue readingThe Forbidden Play (禁じられた遊び) (2023)
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This is a Japanese horror of Ringu (1998) ilk, all about vengeful wraiths and the monstrousness of female emotions.
Continue readingGhostbook Yokaipedia (Ghost Book Obakezukan) (2022)
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Like a Miyazaki story come to life, with cuteness and soundtrack by Spielberg and a cast from a Japanese staging of The Cursed Child. But don’t let that put you off.
Continue readingMonster (怪物) (2023)
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It’s a pleasure to watch a meticulously crafted film where the story keeps unfolding right up until a transcendental ending.
Continue readingPlan 75 (2022)
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This is a beautiful mood piece that explores what the world might look like if the elderly were no longer valued.
Continue readingBroker (브로커) (2022)
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This latest film from Japanese director Hirokazu Koreeda is masterful storytelling. I came out of the screening with a similar feeling to when I watched Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite (2019); contemporary South Korea where the dramatic tension comes from depth of character not plot.
Continue readingWife of a Spy (2020)
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Refreshing in its portrayal of the good and evil of Japan’s part in WWII, Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s mystery has some decent twists and turns amidst the melodrama.
Continue readingCome Back Anytime (また いらっしゃい) (2021)
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You will leave this exquisite documentary about Tokyo ramen master Masamoto Ueda with a full heart and a hankering for chashu ramen.
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