The intricacies of Japanese society shown by Mr.Hiroyuki Tanaka

Monday (2000) directed by Sabu

Actors making films is a new trend in Japanese cinema.It is a known fact that many of them are no so successful.The only exception in the history of Japanese cinema is Takeshi Kitano who is good as an actor as well as a film maker.Monday is directed by Hiroyuki Tanaka who is one of the most important actors of Japanese cinema.In this film he has given viewers unfettered access into the minds of various sections of Japanese society.What we see in the film is the way people like a family,a salary man,some yakuzas and some of the police behave in the course of their normal lives.The idea of the film is not to criticize a section to praise a different one.In this film,Sabu wants to show us his protagonists with their real intentions,moods and motives for leading lives which they feel are suitable for them.Monday is also a plea for peace as Japanese people have suffered enormous losses in the past especially during the World War 2.This is the reason why violence has been shunned in this film.PS:kindly watch with close attention the performance of Terajima Susumu who also stars in Sabu's wonderful film "The Blessing Bell".

It is rare for a modern day Japanese film to achieve such popularity ! ! ! !

Batoru rowaiaru (2000) directed by Fukasaku Kinji

In the year 2000, a couple of years after the demise of Kurosawa Akira there were not many active filmmakers in Japan.Of course,Oshima Nagisa and Imamura Shohei were around but unfortunately they were not at all active.So it was in such bad conditions for Japanese cinema it was a miracle of sorts when this film Battle Royale directed by Fukasaku Kenji came to be acknowledged as a modern day masterpiece.The coverage this film got in western media was phenomenal.It is not so often that CNN and BBC report about a particular Japanese film.The fact that they carried out special reports about "Battle Royale" is a testimony to this film's overall popularity.The unique thing about this film is that although in the past many films have been made about violence and youngsters none have been so deadly as this one.What we see in this film is not only brutal violence but also a state of affairs of young people in developed nations.Battle Royale is one of a kind film which will assuredly keep you on the edge of your seats.Its dramatic end is too cool.

Japanese dogs obey their masters' orders more if they are in English.

Quill (2004) directed by Yoichi Sai

Before watching this film, I was feeling quite excited as I just had a certain idea of what Sai Yoichi might be as a filmmaker. He started his illustrious career as an assistant for Nagisa Oshima on the highly controversial art film "Empire of the senses". It was the same film for which the famous gangster turned filmmaker Koji Wakamatsu provided funds. In the recent past, I had seen only one film directed by him "Blood and Bones". For me,although it was a very violent film I had ever seen in my life, it enabled me to keenly watch and observe Kitano Takeshi's acting talents. So it was with such pleasant expectations and unknown surprises that I began watching this film with my family. At the end of the film, I was feeling elated as I had discovered an hitherto unknown facet of Japanese culture. To begin with, "Quill" made me catch glimpses of family life in Japan as it was shot in a small town away for the bustling metropolis Tokyo. Watching this film made me realize how much value people from Asian countries especially Koreans, Chinese and Japanese attach to English language and culture. It is true that one should try not to be sentimental about dogs, what pleased me the most was the emotional bond which Yochi Sai depicted by making a blind person aware of his dog's worthiness. There are moments of sadness in the film but all in all they served their purpose well. This is a point which all serious viewers would take away with them when they watch this simple, frank and honest film.

It is not at all a mistake made by your Video Cassette Recorder.

Kôfuku no kane (2002) directed by Sabu

How would you react to a film in which the last scene becomes its first scene ? Impossible,no no no,how can that be true ...... These will surely be some of the most common refrains to be heard if a question like this is asked.However there is a surprise in store here.Blessing Bell directed by Sabu aka Hiroyuki Tanaka,one of the most talented Japanese actor cum filmmaker has made that impossible possible by using some of the most innovative yet down to earth techniques like no sound,black humor and minimalist film-making. He is ably supported in this endeavor by Susumu Terajima who has appeared in a couple of films made by great modern day master of Japanese cinema Takeshi Kitano.A lesson about life is to be learned as Blessing Bell has a good collection of scenes of daily lives which enable us to lead a life full of spiritual richness.Your VCR is at no fault if you find the repetitive nature of some scenes. They are very well the integral part of this film.

Kitano's masterpiece number 1:it is the method which counts when cops deal with hoodlums !!!

Sono otoko, kyôbô ni tsuki (1989) directed by Takeshi Kitano.

Violent cop is an excellent film in the league of cops versus hoodlums genre.What is amazingly unique about it is that even though maverick master Kitano has always maintained close proximity to the sphere of Japanese Yakuza gangs,he has nevertheless been able to portray a concise,crisp,candid vision ofthe sordid milieu of the Japanese cops. While watching it,I was mesmerized by its mellifluous soundtrack which has some of the most haunting effects ever recreated for a film.As far as similarities with Dirty Harry are concerned one must look at that aspect from cultural point of view.In Kitano's film there is good deal of respect for family relations. I don't know whether the same holds true for Eastwood's film.It can be said that those liking this film will be impressed by one of its opening sequences which best exemplifies the notion that the method adopted is acceptable if the results achieved are satisfactory. All in all this film is a decent commentary about the sorry state of affairs of Japanese police system which is not at all different from those of other countries.