May seems to be have been sluggish for film news. Maybe it's everyone waiting for summer? Maybe everyone is off on holiday?
So let's start with the first Anniversary of the Japanese Film Club with screenings in London and Oxford, including Linda, Linda, Linda and Shall We Dance? - a film they had to license the rights to, to even be able to show. Anyway check them out here - they even sell beer!
You may recall we recently reviewed the eerie and effective psychological (OK I will call it a) horror film, Exit 8. Well, it's finished it's cinematic run and will be hitting digital platforms 8th June and available to buy on Blu-ray from 29th June.
Finally, though announced a couple of weeks ago (that's really just how quiet it's been) the Radiance August slate of films includes Kon Ichikawa's black comedy: Ten Women in Black. Having watched his The Burmese Harp again only last night I am very glad to see more of Ichikawa's being released in these isles. Long may we see more.
Synopsis:
A television executive’s nine mistresses conspire with his wife to have him killed. When Miwako, one of the mistresses, tells him of the plot, he decides to fake his own death in front of them all. The women panic and deny that they were ever serious about the murder, while Miwako even takes her own life in remorse. But when they find out the man is still alive, they put their original plan back into action. Given complete creative freedom, Kon Ichikawa made this dark satire, one of the undiscovered gems of Japan’s cinematic Golden Age. Featuring a stunning cast of Daiei studio divas and striking monochrome photography by Setsuo Kobayashi (Blind Beast), this is a merciless dissection of social relations and gender roles in affluent post-war Japan.
