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A scorching tale of toxic love in a toxic world, Nagisa Oshima’s second feature film marked the artistic breakthrough of one of the most radical voices in the history of Japanese cinema. Caught in the dog-eat-dog crucible of postwar Tokyo, teenage lovers Makoto (Miyuki Kuwano) and Kiyoshi (Yusuke Kawazu) turn to a life of crime, entrapping lecherous middle-aged men in order to extort their money. But how long can the wayward youths outrun their fate? Bursting with vivid color, this visually scintillating, furiously nihilistic film howls with rage at a society in which everything—love, sex, and youthful idealism—has been corrupted. BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES 4K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack A Town of Love and Hope (1959), director Nagisa Oshima’s first feature film Tomorrow’s Sun (1959), a short film by Oshima Interview with film scholar Tony Rayns Trailer PLUS: An essay by critic Chris Fujiwara Cruel Story of Youth (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] Cruel Story of Youth (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] Similar From the Brand Questions Reviews

Description

A scorching tale of toxic love in a toxic world, Nagisa Oshima’s second feature film marked the artistic breakthrough of one of the most radical voices in the history of Japanese cinema. Caught in the dog-eat-dog crucible of postwar Tokyo, teenage lovers Makoto (Miyuki Kuwano) and Kiyoshi (Yusuke Kawazu) turn to a life of crime, entrapping lecherous middle-aged men in order to extort their money. But how long can the wayward youths outrun their fate? Bursting with vivid color, this visually scintillating, furiously nihilistic film howls with rage at a society in which everything—love, sex, and youthful idealism—has been corrupted. 4K UHD + BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES 4K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack One 4K UHD disc of the film and one Blu-ray with the film and special features A Town of Love and Hope (1959), director Nagisa Oshima’s first feature film Tomorrow’s Sun (1959), a short film by Oshima Interview with film scholar Tony Rayns Trailer PLUS: An essay by critic Chris Fujiwara Cruel Story of Youth (The Criterion Collection) [4K UHD] Cruel Story of Youth (The Criterion Collection) [4K UHD] Similar From the Brand Questions Reviews

Description

Product Description A young woman from the countryside (Miyuki Kuwano of Oshima's Cruel Story of Youth) falls in love with a handsome hoodlum (Mikijiro Hira, Sword of the Beast), who pushes her into a life of prostitution. When his sleazy superiors catch sight of her, she finds herself trapped inside the gaudy maze of city nightlife. Directed by Noburo Nakamura, a veteran of the Shochiku studio's signature Golden Age family dramas, The Shape of Night was made as a reaction to the radical film styles of the Japanese New Wave. With its lush cinematography full of saturated colours, a lyrical tone and its story of love leading to inescapable tragedy, it has been compared to the films of Douglas Sirk, while also acting as a precursor to the work of Wong Kar-wai. LIMITED EDITION BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES: High-Definition digital transfer Uncompressed mono PCM audio Visual essay on the artistic upheavals at Shochiku studios during the 1960s by Tom Mes Trailer New and improved English subtitle translation Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Time Tomorrow Limited edition booklet featuring new writing by Chuck Stephens Limited edition of 3000 copies, presented in full-height Scanavo packaging with removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings Review ★★★★★ A lyrical, nearly Wong Kar-wai-like counterpart to ardent work by Oshima or Imamura. --Film Comment The camera angles and movements, the color scheme and editing all work brilliantly to illustrate her constant sacrifice and lead us to emotionally internalize the gaudy city as a dazzling parade that always leads her back to her situation. --Nick James, Sight & Sound Top About this item Similar From the Brand Reviews The Shape Of Night [Blu-ray]