New Takashi Miike DVD and Retrospective
posted by The Joe
Infamous Japanese filmmaker Takashi Miike is one of the busiest directors in the world, making 74 movies in 16 years. Somewhere in that time, he’s also been directing live theater, and one of those plays will see a North American DVD release in May.
“Demon Pond, by prolific director Takashi Miike, captures the popular Kabuki-esque play of the same name that he staged and directed to sold-out audiences in Japan. The sparse, almost minimalist production, dramatically recounts a mythical fantasy based on a traditional fairytale by Kyoka Izumi. In it, Miike weaves the modern-day story of a man searching for a friend who has mysteriously disappeared, with a magical tale involving strange creatures, a heartbroken princess, and a pact that can’t be broken. Conflicts between faith and skepticism, and between social obligation and personal desire drive the narrative toward a dramatic conclusion where the worlds of the real and the surreal inevitably collide.”
Also, if you happen to live in L.A., the Silent Movie Theatre on Fairfax is holding a retrospective of some of Miike’s more popular work over the next two months.
Jan 6th - Audition
Jan 13th - One Missed Call
Jan 20th - Big Bang Love
Jan 27th - Gozu
Feb 3rd - Happiness of the Katakuris & Visitor Q
Feb 10th - Ichi the Killer & Fudoh
Feb 17th - Great Yokai War & Zebraman