Yes, zedz, that's correct: Imamura originally was approached by Okuzaki Kenzo, the anti-hero of Emperor, who asked Imamura, if he would be interested to make a film about him. Imamura was and had already developed a treatment for TV, when he realized that no Japanese TV channel would ever dare to produce, let alone air a film about such a subject. Finally he gave the treatment to Hara, who was one of Imamura's students at his film-school for a short time. That's why Imamura is credited for "planning" in the film.I believe that the subject was 'found' or 'developed' by Imamura, but left to Hara to film, so the documentary also provides valuable insight into Imamura's historical concerns.
Essential Japanese DVDs
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shirobamba
- Joined: Wed Mar 09, 2005 5:23 pm
- Location: Germany
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artfilmfan
- Joined: Thu Nov 04, 2004 1:11 am
I was very impressed by the beautiful compositions when I watched Joen. I almost mentioned this in my post yesterday. I've also noticed the Antonioni similarity.Steven H wrote:... Beautiful compositions, as always. Why on earth a western company hasn't tackled a single Yoshida film is entirely beyond me... Many critics have noticed some Antonioni influences ...
A western company should definitely look into releasing some Yoshida films.
(Peerpee, are you reading ?)
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jguitar
- Joined: Mon Jan 09, 2006 6:46 pm
Japanese New Wave (a website mentioned here) has announced that they will be releasing in the next year or so some Yoshida films: Eros Plus Massacre, Heroic Purgatory, and Coup d'Etat. They also mention (confusingly) in their news section that they've already released "The Emperor's Naked Army Marches On," though I can't find it anywhere for purchase. I've just ordered the Imamura's that they've recently made available. They're really doing some great things over there.artfilmfan wrote:A western company should definitely look into releasing some Yoshida films.
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Steven H
- Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 7:30 pm
- Location: NC
Anyone interested in lyrical dramatic beauty should look no further than Yoshida's Akitsu Springs, Joen, Story Written With Water, or Farewell To The Summer Light (despite the horribly awkward english language acting in the latter for a few minutes.)
His work with Okada Mariko, or at least the eight dramas seperate from the more politically laden works, shoud be set aside as a box set. The way this director frames the world, and the woman he married in it, deserves to be appreciate by the many rather than the few. I mentioned Antonioni, but with Okada as his subject, the work resembles Sternberg and Dietrich more than Antonioni and Vitti (maybe not as "glorious", but definitely as entrancing).
His work with Okada Mariko, or at least the eight dramas seperate from the more politically laden works, shoud be set aside as a box set. The way this director frames the world, and the woman he married in it, deserves to be appreciate by the many rather than the few. I mentioned Antonioni, but with Okada as his subject, the work resembles Sternberg and Dietrich more than Antonioni and Vitti (maybe not as "glorious", but definitely as entrancing).
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Pinakotheca
- Joined: Mon Oct 23, 2006 6:49 pm
I don't mean to get off-topic, but I'm kind of uncertain of how great of things they are doing over at Japanese New Wave. I worry that their releases scare of smaller boutique labels of buying the rights for these films. I do support places like Super Happy Fun, where I can purchase VHS rips of movies not available on DVD. JNWC however "just" add subtitles to Japanese releases. I don't know, I've been quite puzzled about it. I would much rather see a real label put out this trilogy in the western world...
That been said, sure, it is quite a chance for people to watch some amazing movies.
That been said, sure, it is quite a chance for people to watch some amazing movies.
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shirobamba
- Joined: Wed Mar 09, 2005 5:23 pm
- Location: Germany
From the JNWC mailing list re Emperor's Naked Army:
From the Facet's retro you probably can guess, who the "rightsholder" is.You may have noticed that FORWARD DIVINE ARMY has disappeared from www.japanesenewwave.com -- the reason is due the rights being owned by a U.S. rightholder. We were unaware. Hopefully this means that a release of Hara's work is forthcoming!
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Steven H
- Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 7:30 pm
- Location: NC
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Anonymous
Mike White is behind both Super Happy Fun and Japanese New Wave. You might remember him from the ultra lame "Who Do You Think You're Fooling?" Quentin Tarantino short made when he was working at Blockbuster.Pinakotheca wrote:I'm kind of uncertain of how great of things they are doing over at Japanese New Wave. I worry that their releases scare of smaller boutique labels of buying the rights for these films. I do support places like Super Happy Fun, where I can purchase VHS rips of movies not available on DVD. JNWC however "just" add subtitles to Japanese releases. I don't know, I've been quite puzzled about it. I would much rather see a real label put out this trilogy in the western world...
'Tis true about legit companies. I asked a well-known company about releasing some of these movies and they said they were not interested due to all the eng subbed boots floating around.
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impossiblefunky
- Joined: Fri Jun 02, 2006 7:26 pm
- Location: Westland, MI
- Contact:
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Steven H
- Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 7:30 pm
- Location: NC
That's really interesting so I'll try and figure out what specific titles or companies you're talking about. I'm pretty sure Criterion has the rights to the Imamura and plan on doing at least two in the near future, so that's out. I understand there are numerous financial issues to working on the late 60s Oshima titles, which probably trumps the "too many bootlegs" excuse. I do wonder about the Hani and Yoshida, though, which are Geneon titles (they don't seem interested in issuing anything stateside that was made before 1980) and even more obscure than the previously mentioned directors (which as well known as they are are still too big a financial risk to be more than touched on in almost ten years of DVD.)klaus wrote:'Tis true about legit companies. I asked a well-known company about releasing some of these movies and they said they were not interested due to all the eng subbed boots floating around.
That probably leaves all the upcoming Shochiku owned Oshima. Tell your friend to buy the rights, author the disc, and then send a friendly letter to ebay, superhappyfun, or whoever is selling these titles to stop. I would think there would be a *much* bigger risk working on a title that's available with english subtitles in another country (i.e. MoC's Face of Another, Funeral Parade of Roses, Chinmoku, etc etc etc) than DVDr bootlegs (they don't even have boxes, and don't we all love boxes?) These discs aren't getting airtime on any of the collector sites. A good DVDbeaver, midnighteye, or DVDTalk review can do wonders in making everyone forget about bootlegs, and then you can see your official release sales go through the roof. Just don't burn in the subs like KimStim did with the Taisho Trilogy (other than the interview, we might have been better off letting bootleggers handle it.)
For what it's worth, you can scratch off Shochiku Home Video's disc of Mizoguchi's Story of the Last Chrysanthemums (Zangiku Monogatari) from the "Great Japanese DVDs" list, as it's a fairly muddy transfer of a poor print (very similar to the HomeVision VHS, but with a little more detail.) How incredibly dissapointing. I'll post caps if anyone's interested.
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Michael Kerpan
- Spelling Bee Champeen
- Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 5:20 pm
- Location: New England
- Contact:
I fear that there may be not be any better prints available anymore.Steven H wrote:For what it's worth, you can scratch off Shochiku Home Video's disc of Mizoguchi's Story of the Last Chrysanthemums (Zangiku Monogatari) from the "Great Japanese DVDs" list, as it's a fairly muddy transfer of a poor print (very similar to the HomeVision VHS, but with a little more detail.) How incredibly dissapointing. I'll post caps if anyone's interested.
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kieslowski
- Joined: Fri Nov 05, 2004 4:26 pm
- Location: Somewhere in England
That's very depressing. It was in the list of 360 films that the BFI believed they should have excellent prints of. I'm not sure how good the print was they got hold of, but it's screening at the National Film Theatre in a couple of weeks' time.I fear that there may be not be any better prints available anymore.
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LupinIX
- Joined: Sat May 13, 2006 4:52 am
- Location: Melbourne
If you are not worried about subtitles and / or are interested in seeing what these Japanese editions are like without taking out a second mortgage you might be interested in the Geneon Shohei Imamura set for sale at Yesasia for $7.18. Probably a mispricing but my order has shipped and the price is still on line. I believe this set is the one described elsewhere (at € 142.65).
The 2nd set of 2-part boxset of compilations of Shouhei Imamura's films in Nikkatsu years. This set contains: Disc 1: 'Nippon Konchuuki (Insect Woman, The)' (1963). / Disc 2: 'Akai Satsui (Intentions of Murder)' (1964). / Disc 3: 'Erogotoshi tachi yori: Jinruigaku Nyumon (Pornographers, The)' (1966). / Disc 4: 'Kamigami no Fukaki Yokubou (Deep Desire of Gods)' (1968). /New anamorphic master, new telecine using new print for all films (except for 'Akai Satsui' which used master positives, and 'Kamigami no Fukaki Yokubou' which uised new print from low contrast positives). Teasers & trailers. 24-page booklet. / Disc 5: Interview w/ Shouhei Imamura (conducted by Daisuke Tengan).
The 2nd set of 2-part boxset of compilations of Shouhei Imamura's films in Nikkatsu years. This set contains: Disc 1: 'Nippon Konchuuki (Insect Woman, The)' (1963). / Disc 2: 'Akai Satsui (Intentions of Murder)' (1964). / Disc 3: 'Erogotoshi tachi yori: Jinruigaku Nyumon (Pornographers, The)' (1966). / Disc 4: 'Kamigami no Fukaki Yokubou (Deep Desire of Gods)' (1968). /New anamorphic master, new telecine using new print for all films (except for 'Akai Satsui' which used master positives, and 'Kamigami no Fukaki Yokubou' which uised new print from low contrast positives). Teasers & trailers. 24-page booklet. / Disc 5: Interview w/ Shouhei Imamura (conducted by Daisuke Tengan).
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Telstar
- Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2006 4:35 pm
The Imamura set is only available at that price at the yesasia site that ships globally (but not to North America). When you try to get it shipped to the US or Canada you're directed back to yesasia's other site and the price jumps from $7.18 to somewhere in the range of $185!
So, could I interest anybody outside of North America in ordering this and shipping it to me? I can offer some nice titles in trade or simply reimburse you via paypal.
By the way, should this be posted in the bargain thread?
So, could I interest anybody outside of North America in ordering this and shipping it to me? I can offer some nice titles in trade or simply reimburse you via paypal.
By the way, should this be posted in the bargain thread?
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Awesome Welles
- Joined: Fri Apr 27, 2007 10:02 am
- Location: London
I saw that print at the NFT and it wasn't in great condition at all, but as MK says there doesn't seem to be (m)any decent prints of this film. The print was quite scratchy and if memory serves there was a point in which it seemed as if a couple of frames might have been completely missing as there was a black jump, pop a fizzle. The film however was fantastic despite all that.kieslowski wrote:That's very depressing. It was in the list of 360 films that the BFI believed they should have excellent prints of. I'm not sure how good the print was they got hold of, but it's screening at the National Film Theatre in a couple of weeks' time.I fear that there may be not be any better prints available anymore.
