Two soldiers become unlikely friends during the last years of World War II. One is a former gangster forced into the army (KATSU Shintarō, of Zatoichi fame), always ready to fight, the other is a meek, pacifist intellectual. An immensely entertaining, sardonic buddy comedy that is also a satire on Japan’s imperialism and hollow patriotism. An ode to survival and individualism filmed with vivid realism.
Twee soldaten raken onwaarschijnlijk bevriend tijdens de laatste jaren van de Tweede Wereldoorlog. De een is een voormalig gangster die gedwongen werd het leger in te gaan en altijd wil vechten (KATSU Shintarō, bekend van de Zatoichi-films), de ander een zachtaardige, pacifistische intellectueel. Een enorm vermakelijke buddykomedie, maar ook een sardonische satire op Japans imperialisme en leeg patriottisme. Een ode aan overleven en individualisme, gefilmd met een levendig realisme.
MASUMURA Yasuzo 増村保造 (1924-1986) was a major postwar Japanese filmmaker. His contributions to the Japanese New Wave and beyond have long gone unrecognised in the West. This is finally changing and he is now getting the recognition he deserves. In 1951 he went to Italy to study under Michelangelo ANTONIONI, Federico FELLINI and Luchino VISCONTI. On his return to Japan, he started his directing career as assistant director to MIZOGUCHI Kenji and ICHIKAWA Kon. MASUMURA made his debut as director in 1957 with Kisses, and went on to direct 58 films in a variety of genres and styles. In 2008 CAMERA JAPAN dedicated a small programme to a few of his literary adaptations. In 2024, we are showcasing five major works from the 1950s and 1960s in a special retrospective.
1978 – The Love Suicides at Sonezaki 曽根崎心中
1973 – Hanzo the Razor: The Snare 御用牙 かみそり半蔵地獄責め
1972 – Music 音楽
1969 – Blind Beast 盲獣
1967 – The Wife of Seishu Hanaoka 華岡青洲の妻 (CJ 2008)
1966 – Irezumi 刺青
1966 – Red Angel 赤い天使
1966 – Nakano Spy School 陸軍中野学校 (CJ 2024)
1965 – Hoodlum Soldier 兵隊やくざ (CJ 2024) (CJ 2008)
1964 – All Mixed Up 卍 (CJ 2024)
1962 – Black Test Car 黒の試走車#映画
1961 – The Wife’s Confession 妻は告白する(CJ 2024)
1960 – Afraid to Die からっ風野郎
1958 – Giants and Toys 巨人と玩具
1957 – Warm Current 暖流 (CJ 2008)
1957 – The Blue Sky Maiden 青空娘 (CJ 2008)
1957 – Kisses くちづけ (CJ 2024)