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Post by Aj_June on Jul 11, 2018 0:54:14 GMT
Hello down there in Victoria Aj_June , A few directors and films come to mind Yasuzo Masumura is one with A Wife Confesses , Man of the Biting Wind, Black Test Car (1962). Nobuo Nakagawa was a great noir stylist, Onna shikeishû no datsugoku , Death Row Woman (1960) and Dokufu Takahashi Oden , Poisonous Woman Takahashi O-Den (1958) pictured below, are excellent dark crime tales, his films are well worth exploring, Hideo Gosha a supreme stylist crafted some excellent crime films, Gohiki no shinshi (1966) is a noir knockout ! and of course mentioned above Yoshitarō Nomura, he is considered , one of the pioneers of Japanese film noir . Tomu Uchida Keisatsukan (1933) a wonderful expressionist early silent noir drama. Happy Japanese Classic Viewing to you...
Hi planet / Aj June. May I add the work of a director whose work has drawn parallels in the U K with some of the pivotal film noir melodramas of Hollywood's classics era, films like 'Leave Her To Heaven' (1945), 'Mildred Pierce' (1945), 'The Reckless Moment' (1949) and 'Angel Face' (1952). It's director Noboru Tanaka who made the very dark films 'A Woman Called Sada Abe' (1975) and 'Watcher In The Attic', films that carry strong noir overtones and gothic horror stylings. Both of these movies star Junko Miyashita. I find them thoroughly depressing but can admire their artistry.
Hi Petrolino. Thanks for introducing me to Noboru Tanaka (funny thing is that this is second director called Tanaka that I came to know on the same day). I liked those English movies you listed (especially the one starring Gene Tierney) and would very much like to see Japanese films that have something in common with them. I guess I need to get in 70s of Japanese cinema. I think posters in this thread have inspired me enough by now to look beyond the more widely known Japanese directors. Many thanks once again!
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Post by petrolino on Jul 11, 2018 1:04:49 GMT
Hi planet / Aj June. May I add the work of a director whose work has drawn parallels in the U K with some of the pivotal film noir melodramas of Hollywood's classics era, films like 'Leave Her To Heaven' (1945), 'Mildred Pierce' (1945), 'The Reckless Moment' (1949) and 'Angel Face' (1952). It's director Noboru Tanaka who made the very dark films 'A Woman Called Sada Abe' (1975) and 'Watcher In The Attic', films that carry strong noir overtones and gothic horror stylings. Both of these movies star Junko Miyashita. I find them thoroughly depressing but can admire their artistry.
Hi Petrolino. Thanks for introducing me to Noboru Tanaka (funny thing is that this is second director called Tanaka that I came to know on the same day). I liked those English movies you listed (especially the one starring Gene Tierney) and would very much like to see Japanese films that have something in common with them. I guess I need to get in 70s of Japanese cinema. I think posters in this thread have inspired me enough by now to look beyond the more widely known Japanese directors. Many thanks once again! Here's a couple of recommendations that provide genuine insight into Japanese society in the 1970s, though both are restricted titles for 'adults' only. The book 'Behind The Pink Curtain : The Complete History Of Japanese Sex Cinema' by Jasper Sharp who records many dvd commentary tracks for releases of Japanese films on dvd here in the U K. The excellent documentary 'Arakimentari' (2004), about controversial rope bondage artist Nobuyoshi Araki, with contributions from photographer Richard Kern, musician Bjork and Japanese action legend 'Beat' Takeshi Kitano who's said to be a friend of cinema master Quentin Tarantino.
Thanks for the great thread - it seems, we're all learning a lot!
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Post by Fox in the Snow on Jul 11, 2018 3:39:36 GMT
Just finished watching The Snow Woman (1968) by the director Tokuzô Tanaka . The film is based on Japanese folklore's famous ghost character called Yuki-onna (雪女, snow woman). I thoroughly enjoyed the movie and found it visually stunning. Its story is extremely haunting and could melt your heart. A spirit falls in love with a human (something that happens very frequently in Japanese folklore) and has to live with the consequences. The background music is very appealing and very Japanese. The film has a similar kind of appeal as Kwaidan but because it is one story for the entire movie you become more involved in it. It felt to me as if I was somehow transported to the cold snowy world where the movie is set. I recommend this movie to everyone. It's even available on youtube. My rating 7.5/10 Cool, will have to give that a watch. I saw the recent remake of it last year and quite liked it and it has always been my favorite part of Kwaidan.
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Post by Fox in the Snow on Jul 11, 2018 3:43:30 GMT
Love the Stray Cat Rock series, fun and colourful, though I prefer the Female Prisoner Scorpion series. Gorgeous photo pf Meiko BTW. I’m hoping to get a hold of Jissoji’s Buddhist trilogy, I’ve already seen the first film This Transient Life and it’s fascinating. Another very worthwhile set from Arrow was Yoshishige Yoshida’s Love + Anarchy trilogy. The first film in the series, the 3+ hour Eros + Massacre is arguably the centrepiece of the Japanese New Wave.
With regards to my list, if I could recommend anything from the 1970s, I'd say in my experience, any movies directed by Teruo Ishii and Norifumi 'Noribumi' Suzuki are probably worth seeing. The reason being they are both gifted visual stylists with an experimental streak, men who make genre films with arresting visuals, based upon those I've seen.
Visual style with an experimental edge, exactly the reason I like the Female Prisoner Scorpion films and those of Seijun Suzuki from the same timeframe. Will definitely keep those two directors in mind. Thanks
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Post by manfromplanetx on Jul 11, 2018 5:53:02 GMT
The Ninja/Shinobi was a covert agent or mercenary in feudal Japan. Trained and highly skilled in various disciplines of martial arts, experts in the art of survival, ninja operatives carried out secret missions, of espionage, sabotage, infiltration, assassination and guerrilla warfare. In the upheaval of the Sengoku period (1467-1573), Kyoto the central capital was in ruins during the Onin War, there was a complete erosion of the social order, which devolved into a never-ending cycle of unrest & civil war. During this period mercenaries and spies became very active. An advantage for opposing clans jostling for supremacy, was information recived & the success subversive operations carried out by the Ninja. As the country unified towards the end of the 17th century, the Ninja faded into obscurity. Their tradition however became a topic of popular imagination and mystery in Japan. Figuring prominently in legend and folklore tales the Ninja is often associated with legendary other worldly abilities such as shape shifting, invisibility, walking on water and control over the natural elements... Many wonderful films and stories, Classic 60s TV, are inspired by the fascinating black cloaked Ninja's and their legendary tales .. Sengoku yarô , Warring Clans (1963) Kihachi Okamoto . For his first film in the chambira genre Okamoto presents in his uniquely original vibrant style, his take on Japanese period history, the setting era is the Sengoku period. Opening with a mystical aura, this is a wonderfully entertaining shinobi-eiga film, a key film in the genre. Spectacular location filming, a super stylish blend of action, romance, comedy & drama, with a satirical cynical worldview, this is no ordinary adventure story !! ..
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Post by pimpinainteasy on Jul 11, 2018 6:32:50 GMT
what an absolutely fantastic thread.
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Post by wmcclain on Jul 11, 2018 11:04:16 GMT
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Post by manfromplanetx on Jul 12, 2018 5:44:40 GMT
Over the centuries in Japan the supernatural cat creature bakeneko has inspired countless classic kaidan stories, based on the creatures unnerving ability to shapeshift into human form, to curse and possess humans. Filmmakers of the 20 century adapted traditional legends and folktales, producing many splendid horror/supernatural themed films dedicated to creepy tales of the mysterious revengeful feline. Some highly atmospheric, genuinely creepy tales come to mind... Kaibyô ômagatsuji , The Ghost Cat of Ouma Crossing (1954) Bin Kado Excellent !! Hiroku kaibyô-den , Chronicle of the Ghost Cat AKA The Haunted Castle (1969) Tokuzô Tanaka. An outstanding atmospheric tale, loosely based on a 17th century legend, an eerie dark tale of revenge, bakeneko style . Bôrei kaibyô yashiki , The Mansion of the Ghost Cat (1958) Nobuo Nakagawa , Wonderfully dark and creepy Kaibyô Otama-ga-ike , The Ghost Cat of Otama Pond (1960) Yoshihiro Ishikawa Super Stylish classic Kaibyô nori no numa , Bakeneko: A Vengeful Spirit . (1968) Yoshihiro Ishikawa Creepy, highly atmospheric with an outstanding haunting soundtrack Yabu no naka no kuroneko , A Black Cat in a Bamboo Grove (1968) Kaneto Shindô , spellbinding masterwork
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Post by wmcclain on Jul 12, 2018 11:18:44 GMT
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Post by petrolino on Jul 12, 2018 11:24:19 GMT
"We have closeups of only three women, analogous to Robert Graves' Triple Goddess: the peasant Maiden who loves a samurai, Rikichi's Wife, captured and kept by the bandits, and the miserable Crone who hacks at a bound bandit with a hoe."
- wmcclain
So interesting, I'll look this up. I think your passion for this film really comes through in your writing.
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Post by manfromplanetx on Jul 12, 2018 22:14:48 GMT
Mikio Naruse was an inspiring filmmaker of the highest order, who produced and directed over 80 films spanning the tumultuous decades 1930 to 1967. He crafted primarily shomin-geki (working-class drama), films with female protagonists, that have a focus on family and the clash of traditional and modern Japanese culture. Naruse's films are characterized by his masterly composition, simple screenplays, with minimal dialogue, unobtrusive camera work, and low-key production design. Deliberately slow and leisurely paced, asking you to listen quietly & carefully. His style magnifies the drama highlighting in his characters their psychological nuances seen in every glance, every gesture and movement. Akira Kurosawa worked as an assistant to Naruse before he became a director and remained a close friend, his eloquent appraisal, is a beautiful tribute... “Naruse’s method consists of building one very brief shot on top of the other, but when you look at them all spliced together in the final film, they give the impression of a single long take. The flow is so magnificent that the splices are invisible. This flow of short shots looks calm and ordinary at first glance then reveals itself to be like a deep river with a quiet surface disguising a fast-raging current underneath. The sureness of his hand in this was without comparison.” Naruse’s last three films have a distinct shift in tone, uncharacteristic for Naruse they have been described as neo-noir, absorbing cynical tales, superbly filmed, wonderful dark melodrama surprisingly little known.. Highly Recommended Onna no naka ni iru tanin , The Stranger Within a Woman (1966) Hikinige , Hit and Run (1966) pictured Excellent 10/10 Midaregumo , Scattered Clouds (1967)
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Post by Aj_June on Jul 12, 2018 22:17:15 GMT
Over the centuries in Japan the supernatural cat creature bakeneko has inspired countless classic kaidan stories, based on the creatures unnerving ability to shapeshift into human form, to curse and possess humans. Filmmakers of the 20 century adapted traditional legends and folktales, producing many splendid horror/supernatural themed films dedicated to creepy tales of the mysterious revengeful feline. Some highly atmospheric, genuinely creepy tales come to mind... Kaibyô ômagatsuji , The Ghost Cat of Ouma Crossing (1954) Bin Kado Excellent !! Hiroku kaibyô-den , Chronicle of the Ghost Cat AKA The Haunted Castle (1969) Tokuzô Tanaka. An outstanding atmospheric tale, loosely based on a 17th century legend, an eerie dark tale of revenge, bakeneko style . Bôrei kaibyô yashiki , The Mansion of the Ghost Cat (1958) Nobuo Nakagawa , Wonderfully dark and creepy Kaibyô Otama-ga-ike , The Ghost Cat of Otama Pond (1960) Yoshihiro Ishikawa Super Stylish classic Kaibyô nori no numa , Bakeneko: A Vengeful Spirit . (1968) Yoshihiro Ishikawa Creepy, highly atmospheric with an outstanding haunting soundtrack Yabu no naka no kuroneko , A Black Cat in a Bamboo Grove (1968) Kaneto Shindô , spellbinding masterwork Thanks...Just when I thought I was running out of good horror movies you came up with ones that definitely seem very good. I have seen only kuroneko from the ones you listed. I like the fact that Japanese horrors of pre 80s were based on Japanese folklore. I am not a fan of romantic movies but I like the fact that many of the Japanese horror movies are based on the concept of eternal love. Sometimes lovers are willing to even fall to the lowest states of hell for their love. All these elements make for extremely humanistic horror movies, which is not the case with plain horror movies where you see mindless killings (though to be honest I even love those Zombie horrors).
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Post by manfromplanetx on Jul 12, 2018 22:56:13 GMT
Kaneto Shindo, a master director and screenwriter, film producer, and author. He directed 48 films and wrote scripts for 238 Shindo was a pioneer of independent film production in Japan, founding a company called Kindai Eiga Kyokai. with fellow director Kōzaburō Yoshimura. A prolific active craftsman, Shindo continued working as a scriptwriter, director and author until his death at the age of 100 in 2012. Shindo made his debut as a director in 1951 with the autobiographical Story of a Beloved Wife, starring his mistress, life long collaborator, and future wife actress Nobuko OtowaThroughout the 50s Shindo made topical & political films that were social critiques with a focus on poverty & women's suffering in present-day Japan, Lucky Dragon Number 5 (1959) is based on a true story of a fishing crew irradiated by an American atomic bomb test at Bikini Atoll. Even in his best known later works Shindo infused a subversive tone, in his masterwork Onibaba (1964) a dark fable of a mother and daughter stuck on the lowest rung of the social ladder who subsist and only survive through desperation. The mother and the daughter-in-law, Shindo elaborates.. "They are people totally abandoned, outside society's political protection. Among these outcasts I wanted to capture their immense energy for survival...the tall, swaying reeds are my symbol of the world, the society which surrounds people... the world in which these commoners live and to which the eyes of lords and politicians do not reach" Little known are many of his best works which surprisingly have had no official international release...some top rated recommendations include Ningen , Human (1962) Akutô , A Scoundrel (1965) pictured Sanka , Hymn (1972) Kokoro , The Heart (1973) Hokusai manga (1981)
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Post by manfromplanetx on Jul 13, 2018 1:18:35 GMT
Hideo Gosha , began directing in the early sixties, starting out with light Samurai films, historical drama and hard boiled crime film, at the end of the decade he mastered two of the most astonishing Samurai films ever made. He was a supreme stylist with a daring & vivid approach to his craft. Gosha developed his own distinctive mark as a director, an animalistic vision of life and human beings, labelled by himself as dobutsuteki na ronri (animal logic), men and women unable to transcend their beastly impulses because of the social disorder and violence around them. Never fearing to explore the human soul and its impulses, his characters are richly drawn, penetrating into the samurai psyche. Fascinating, action packed, existential drama, captivating cinema, spiriting you away within seconds, placing you in a totally unfamiliar world, absolutely riveted until the very end... Two of the finest examples of the chambara genre (sword fighting ,Samurai) are Gosha's Goyokin (1969) & Hitokiri (1969) Hitokiri literally means manslayers, it is the title for an outstanding very dark historical samurai film aka Tenchu . Set in the political turmoil of 1868 at the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate (the last feudal Japanese military government), the stunning, spellbinding film is based on the lives of the historical group known as the Four Hitokiri of the Bakumatsu , with a central focus on Okada Izo These four samurai were warrior elite, said to be undefeatable by mere mortals. Starring with a mesmerizing performance, the main protagonist, Shintaro Katsu as Okada Izo and notably Yukio Mishima as Tanaka Shinbei , two of the most feared of the four assassins. These real life characters make for fascinating reading & historical research. Working under the command of Takechi Hanpeita, who sought to overthrow the Tokugawa shogunate and restore the Emperor of Japan to power, the swordsmen unquestioningly , carried out bold political assassinations on prominent high profile opposition reformers... 10/10 Pictured above Katsu, and the four, centre are Shintaro Katsu, and in a rare film appearance, author Yukio Mishima
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Post by Fox in the Snow on Jul 13, 2018 3:38:58 GMT
Mikio Naruse was an inspiring filmmaker of the highest order, who produced and directed over 80 films spanning the tumultuous decades 1930 to 1967. He crafted primarily shomin-geki (working-class drama), films with female protagonists, that have a focus on family and the clash of traditional and modern Japanese culture. Naruse's films are characterized by his masterly composition, simple screenplays, with minimal dialogue, unobtrusive camera work, and low-key production design. Deliberately slow and leisurely paced, asking you to listen quietly & carefully. His style magnifies the drama highlighting in his characters their psychological nuances seen in every glance, every gesture and movement. Akira Kurosawa worked as an assistant to Naruse before he became a director and remained a close friend, his eloquent appraisal, is a beautiful tribute... “Naruse’s method consists of building one very brief shot on top of the other, but when you look at them all spliced together in the final film, they give the impression of a single long take. The flow is so magnificent that the splices are invisible. This flow of short shots looks calm and ordinary at first glance then reveals itself to be like a deep river with a quiet surface disguising a fast-raging current underneath. The sureness of his hand in this was without comparison.” Naruse’s last three films have a distinct shift in tone, uncharacteristic for Naruse they have been described as neo-noir, absorbing cynical tales, superbly filmed, wonderful dark melodrama surprisingly little known.. Highly Recommended Onna no naka ni iru tanin , The Stranger Within a Woman (1966) Hikinige , Hit and Run (1966) pictured Excellent 10/10 Midaregumo , Scattered Clouds (1967) I’ve only scratched the surface with Naruse. I was very impressed with perhaps his most well known film, When A Woman Ascends the Stairs, a beautiful character portrait, elegantly filmed. Other than that I’ve only managed to see a lot of lesser known works from the 1930s and early 1950s. I recently saw Older Brother, Younger Sister, which showcased some beautifully understated camerawork and a wonderful eye for composition as well as a blistering if a little melodramatic performance from the lovely Machiko Kyo. I look forward to diving further into his daunting filmography, especially some of his more well known titles from the 1950s as well as those dark final films you mention. I’ve heard a few people refer to Scattered Clouds as his masterpiece.
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Post by manfromplanetx on Jul 13, 2018 6:15:33 GMT
I’ve only scratched the surface with Naruse. I was very impressed with perhaps his most well known film, When A Woman Ascends the Stairs, a beautiful character portrait, elegantly filmed. Other than that I’ve only managed to see a lot of lesser known works from the 1930s and early 1950s. I recently saw Older Brother, Younger Sister, which showcased some beautifully understated camerawork and a wonderful eye for composition as well as a blistering if a little melodramatic performance from the lovely Machiko Kyo. I look forward to diving further into his daunting filmography, especially some of his more well known titles from the 1950s as well as those dark final films you mention. I’ve heard a few people refer to Scattered Clouds as his masterpiece. Hi there Fox in the Snow, nice to hear your thoughts on Mikio Naruse, I too have "only scratched the surface" on the great directors filmography and am most interested in exploring further his mid to late 30s films. A mix of drama comedy and musical. The absolutely wonderful 1935 film Otome-gokoro - Sannin-shimai , Three Sisters with Maiden Hearts was his first talking picture. It has an amazingly modern feel with beautifully composed expressionist cinematography, full of innovative technique, and thoughtfully a tale with emotional intensity...
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Post by Fox in the Snow on Jul 13, 2018 7:04:59 GMT
I’ve only scratched the surface with Naruse. Hi there Fox in the Snow, nice to hear your thoughts on Mikio Naruse, I too have "only scratched the surface" on the great directors filmography and am most interested in exploring further his mid to late 30s films. A mix of drama comedy and musical. The absolutely wonderful 1935 film Otome-gokoro - Sannin-shimai , Three Sisters with Maiden Hearts was his first talking picture. It has an amazingly modern feel with beautifully composed expressionist cinematography, full of innovative technique, and thoughtfully a tale with emotional intensity... I did enjoy that one MfPX, others from the 1930s I particularly liked were, Wife! Be Like A Rose!, A Woman's Sorrows and Avalanche.
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Post by petrolino on Jul 13, 2018 11:24:35 GMT
I’ve only scratched the surface with Naruse. I was very impressed with perhaps his most well known film, When A Woman Ascends the Stairs, a beautiful character portrait, elegantly filmed. Other than that I’ve only managed to see a lot of lesser known works from the 1930s and early 1950s. I recently saw Older Brother, Younger Sister, which showcased some beautifully understated camerawork and a wonderful eye for composition as well as a blistering if a little melodramatic performance from the lovely Machiko Kyo. I look forward to diving further into his daunting filmography, especially some of his more well known titles from the 1950s as well as those dark final films you mention. I’ve heard a few people refer to Scattered Clouds as his masterpiece. Hi there Fox in the Snow, nice to hear your thoughts on Mikio Naruse, I too have "only scratched the surface" on the great directors filmography and am most interested in exploring further his mid to late 30s films. A mix of drama comedy and musical. The absolutely wonderful 1935 film Otome-gokoro - Sannin-shimai , Three Sisters with Maiden Hearts was his first talking picture. It has an amazingly modern feel with beautifully composed expressionist cinematography, full of innovative technique, and thoughtfully a tale with emotional intensity... There was a gentleman called kerpan on the old imdb Classic Film board who often posted interesting comments about Japanese cinema. He had incredible knowledge and I'm pretty sure his favourite director was Mikio Naruse. I'm yet to see a Naruse movie.
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Post by wmcclain on Jul 13, 2018 11:25:51 GMT
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Post by petrolino on Jul 13, 2018 11:29:28 GMT
Hideo Gosha , began directing in the early sixties, starting out with light Samurai films, historical drama and hard boiled crime film, at the end of the decade he mastered two of the most astonishing Samurai films ever made. He was a supreme stylist with a daring & vivid approach to his craft. Gosha developed his own distinctive mark as a director, an animalistic vision of life and human beings, labelled by himself as dobutsuteki na ronri (animal logic), men and women unable to transcend their beastly impulses because of the social disorder and violence around them. Never fearing to explore the human soul and its impulses, his characters are richly drawn, penetrating into the samurai psyche. Fascinating, action packed, existential drama, captivating cinema, spiriting you away within seconds, placing you in a totally unfamiliar world, absolutely riveted until the very end... Two of the finest examples of the chambara genre (sword fighting ,Samurai) are Gosha's Goyokin (1969) & Hitokiri (1969) Hitokiri literally means manslayers, it is the title for an outstanding very dark historical samurai film aka Tenchu . Set in the political turmoil of 1868 at the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate (the last feudal Japanese military government), the stunning, spellbinding film is based on the lives of the historical group known as the Four Hitokiri of the Bakumatsu , with a central focus on Okada Izo These four samurai were warrior elite, said to be undefeatable by mere mortals. Starring with a mesmerizing performance, the main protagonist, Shintaro Katsu as Okada Izo and notably Yukio Mishima as Tanaka Shinbei , two of the most feared of the four assassins. These real life characters make for fascinating reading & historical research. Working under the command of Takechi Hanpeita, who sought to overthrow the Tokugawa shogunate and restore the Emperor of Japan to power, the swordsmen unquestioningly , carried out bold political assassinations on prominent high profile opposition reformers... 10/10 Pictured above Katsu, and the four, centre are Shintaro Katsu, and in a rare film appearance, author Yukio Mishima
I'd like to see some of Hideo Gosha's work. I've not seen 'Hitokiri' but I did read Yukio Mishima when I was at school. I also saw Paul Schrader's biopic 'Mishima : A Life In Four Chapters' (1985) with Ken Ogata playing the author.
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