Japanese film night @ oPeRaTiNg tHeAtRe oPeRaTiNg tHeAtRe - 17.12.2005 17:58
tuesday 20th December oPeRaTiNg tHeAtRe presents a japanese film night, Choose between "Street Mobster" or "Dead or Alive"! On every third tuesday of the month, oPeRaTiNg tHeAtRe will screen japanese films. You can choose one of the movies. For this coming tuesday, choose between "Street Mobster" and "Dead or Alive", per online vote on oPeRaTiNg tHeAtRe website, http://operatingtheatre.squat.net Street Mobster - Gendai yakuza: hito-kiri yota Kinji Fukasaku, 1972, 92 min, japanese with english subtitles An early film by cult director Kinji Fukasaku (BATTLE ROYALE, THE YAKUZA PAPERS), STREET MOBSTER in many ways scripts the blueprint for Fukasaku's later films chronicling real-life accounts of the Japanese yakuza. In the tradition of Takeshi Kitano, Sergio Leone, and George Romero, Japanese action director Kinji Fukasaku brings to life the story of a violent killer who will stop at nothing to satisfy his lust for blood. Released from prison, gangster Isamu Okita plans to start his own gang and begins a reign of terror using beatings, prostitution, stabbings, and murders to fight his way to the top of the gangland world. "Street Mobster" is a look into the dark realm of Japan's criminal underworld, where anything can be had for a price. Unbelievable - this ultraviolent gangster flick is from 1972 - if it wasn't for the poor monophonic sound mix on the dvd, you almost wouldn't recognize the age! Fast cuts, ultracool gangster hero, bloody beat-ups and shootings - everything that Beat Takeshi Kitano is exploring and developing to a further stage in his brilliant movies 'Hana-Bi' or 'Brother' can be found in this masterpiece as a blueprint. Fans of Asian action cinema won't be disappointed - the film is moving so fast, the inevitable climax almost let's you lose breath - this is a true gem! Get it, see it! Dead or Alive: Hanzaisha Takashi Miike, 105 min, japanese with english subtitles "After watching this film's opening ten minutes I sat in the theatre with my mouth agape. After watching the closing ten minutes my brain (or what was left of it) was looking feverishly for ways to cope with what I had just witnessed. Cinema doesn't very often have that kind of effect, especially on those jaded by voracious filmic appetites." -- midnighteye.com Takashi Miike's (Audition, Itchi the Killer, Full Metal Yakuza) Dead or Alive is a stunner alright. He is one of the star directors of Japan and with over 65 productions in 15 years also the busiest. His international breakthrough came with Odishon (1999) (Audition) and Miike has an ever expanding cult following in the west. His movies are known for their explicit and taboo representations of violence and sex in films like Bizita Q (2001) (Visitor Q), Koroshiya 1 (2001) (Ichi The Killer) and the Dead or Alive Trilogy: Dead or Alive: Hanzaisha (1999), Dead or Alive 2: Tobosha (2000) and Dead or Alive: Final (2002). Without a home and feeling no obligation to Japanese society or Yakuza, Ryuichi (Takeuchi Riki) and his small group decide to make their own place by trying to take over the Shinjuku underworld and the drug trade from Taiwan. As they plan an all-out-assault on the remaining Chinese and Japanese mafia kings, only Detective Jojima (Aikawa Sho) stands between them and complete domination. WARNING: This motion picture contains explicit portrayals of violence; sex; violent sex; sexual violence; clowns and violent scenes of violent excess, which are definitely not suitable for all audiences. the oPeRaTiNg tHeAtRe is screening films every tuesday at a new location: Squathé, Vijzelstraat 5A (next to the Pathé cinema), Amsterdam. http://operatingtheatre.squat.net Opens at 19:00 Dinner at 19:30 Film at 20:30 |