I saw most of the shorts/films from the Punk Years series they acquired last year at BIFFF. All the film prints had English subtitles on them and I then helped Crazy Thunder Road get screened at Fantastic Fest (with Zack Carlson and Tim League giving me an early Christmas present by doing so). The most memorable aspect of getting to see his early work at a grindhouse theater was towards the end when a restored print of Electric Dragon 80000V was playing and I had to leave in order to catch the last shuttle (I certainly wasn’t going to try and navigate the confusing streets of Belgium at 4 am). As I stood outside the theater the bass notes from the film were very loud and distinct and this somehow drew the attention of every homeless person in sight. As I would see a homeless person walking down the street, when the distinct bass notes burst out, I would see them go from casually walking to suddenly at a complete stop and then looking at the theater. Upon the second or third bass note they would then walk inside. It was an incredibly strange effect and I watched it happen again and again and again.

Shuffle is a really nice rocking piece of film. If you have ever thought you have seen a chase shot in every conceivable manner and in every hyper kinetic way, then you haven’t seen this hellraising burst of cinema chase nirvana.

Celluloid Dreams Press Release
www.celluloid-dreams.com

Known for his striking visuals and outlandish subject matter, maverick director Sogo Ishii is considered to be the master of Japanese punk cinema.

Sogo Ishii’s early shorts were acts of punk-spirited rebellion, echoing the do-it-yourself attitude of the movement. Today, Ishii is a fully accomplished artist, expressing himself not only as a film director but also as a photographer, a live performer and a music video director. His work has been divided into two periods:

The Punk Years: 1976 – 1983

These raw, energetic pieces of punk cinema feature Bosozoku biker gangs and the Japanese cyberpunk scene. Ishii’s original hyperkinetic filmmaking approach, with wild editing and camera movements, express the spirit and energy of the punk movement.

PANIC IN HIGH SCHOOL (1976) – 16 min – Color
ISOLATION OF 1/880000 (1977) – 43 min – Color
ATTACK! HAKATA STREET GANG (1978) – 67 min – Color
CRAZY THUNDER ROAD (1980) – 98 min – Color
SHUFFLE (1981) – 33 min – B&W
ASIA STRIKES BACK (Remix Live Version) (2005) – 31 min – Color

The Psychedelic Years: 1984 – today

After the violent Punk Years, Sogo Ishii begins a new period of filmmaking, the experimental and emotional Psychedelic Years. These films feature meditative imagery and music while stretching the parameters of film form and language

THE MASTER OF SHIATSU (1989) – 13 min – Color
AUGUST IN THE WATER (1995) – 117 min – Color
KYOSHIN (3D Sound Perfect Edition) (2005) – 61min – Color
More titles to be confirmed.

Celluloid Dreams also acquired 5 Mashahiro Kobayashi titles:

CLOSING TIME (1996)
BOOTLEG FILM (1999)
MAN WALKING ON SNOW (2001)
BASHING (2005)
THE REBIRTH (2007)

Japanese Cinema:
::: Jason Gray
::: Mark Schilling’s Tokyo Ramen
::: Midnight Eye
::: Nippon Cinema
::: Outcast Cinema
::: Ryuganji
::: Toronto J-Film Pow-Wow

This is one of those films that has fallen through the cracks that I keep meaning to go back and watch. I plan on tracking this one down soon and posting a review here.

Japanese Cinema:
::: Jason Gray
::: Mark Schilling’s Tokyo Ramen
::: Midnight Eye
::: Nippon Cinema
::: Outcast Cinema
::: Ryuganji
::: Toronto J-Film Pow-Wow

Image Source:
Official still that was used in the original international release of the film.

Related Links:
::: IMDb Profile