Concrete Playground

Is there anything Japan doesn't have? Department stores full of plastic food models and animal hats, the world’s biggest pedestrian crossing, brothels shaped like train carriages… and a whole lot of great films! The 13th Japanese Film Festival jumps from bittersweet comedies to interpersonal dramas to dystopic action films, with a bit of anime thrown in for good measure.

Opening night film The Handsome Suit is a fantastical take on one man’s quest for love. Ohki (Muga Tsukaji) is all out of luck with the ladies until he finds a magical suit. At first it’s all good news as the suit transforms the hapless chef into a smooth fellow named Hikariyama, but the question of whether money or, in this case, a magic suit can truly provide happiness remains.

Another standout is All Around Us. The 2008 film from director Ryosuke Hashiguchi saw Tae Kimura collect four separate awards for Best Actress for her portrayal of depressed wife Shoko. The refreshingly honest dynamic between Shoko and husband Kanao (Lily Franky) is something different for a Japanese relationship drama, and the distinctly modern problems the couple face endear them to us all the more. Franky is also well known in Japan as an author, illustrator, radio
host and frontman of Tokyo Mood Punks. Evidently, the word “slashy”
hasn’t hit Japan yet, and it seems they’re all the better for it.

Possibly the most talked-about film of the festival is Detroit Metal City, based on a manga series of the same name. The premise is that sweet, bowl-cut-sporting Negishi (Ken'ichi Matsuyama) just wants to make Swedish pop, but somehow ends up fronting the death metal band of the film’s title. His boss extinguishes cigarettes on her tongue and Gene Simmons makes a cameo, but Negishi’s main concern is that his mother will find out about his reluctant success.

It’s obvious to say that a film festival has something for everyone but, judging by the perfect combination of death metal, magic suits and depressed housewives, this one really does.

To win a double pass to any film excluding the opening and closing events at the Japanese Film Festival, email your name and
address to hello@concreteplayground.com.au with 'Japan' in
the subject line.

Image from Detroit Metal City