Kuroi gashû: Aru sarariman no shôgen (1960)

Kuroi gashû: Aru sarariman no shôgen (1960)

AKA: The Black Book
Dir: Hiromichi Horikawa

It all begins with a bow, a simple greeting from one man to his neighbor. But it happens in a place the man has no business being, and his neighbor is just about to be arrested for murder.

Based on a story by Seichô Matsumoto, an author whose work I have never admired, THE BLACK BOOK is nevertheless a major surprise, a dark crime drama teeming over with paranoia and anxiety. Propelled by yet another flawless performance by Keiju Kobayashi, one of Japanese cinema's greatest faces, and a subtle yet highly artistic visual sense, this is one of the best Japanese films I have ever seen. And what sucks is that, aside from a skimpy imdb entry, pretty much no information about this film exists on the internet, not in English, at least. Such is my overwhelming burden, and the reason I made this blog.

10/10

Puppets Under Starry Skies (1978)

AKA: Hoshizora no marionette

Dir: Hôjin Hashiura

The leader of a motorcycle gang is abandoned by his subjects after he is nearly beaten to death by rivals. His only friends are Hiroshi, a tormented young gay man, and Akemi, a libidinous waitress.

This film is a real find; I was immensely impressed. Hashiura only made two other films, neither available in English, possibly not available at all. The script is said to be based on a novel by Kita Hadashi, a person who appears not to exist. Kazuhito Takei turns in the best performance as self-loathing Hiroshi, and this was his only movie. The humane treatment of a homosexual character is something rare in films of this era.


The movie overall is too fucking dark, ruining some superb shots. I wish I could find more information, but like many films I love, it's sparse to nonexistent. The music is absolutely dreadful, but I kept the sound low as I usually do. PUPPETS is a massive bummer, and for that: 9/10

Puppets Under Starry Skies (1978) [IMDB]