Outrage Beyond (2012) – MIFF Film Review

Japan 112 mins

There are several yakuza gangs fighting for ultimate power. There are corrupt cops. No-one knows who to trust. They all have guns and lots of them end up dead.

This is the sequel to Kitano’s Outrage (2010) and I think that is where the problems started for me. I didn’t know anything about these yakuza gangs, and nothing was really explained to me. I also didn’t care about any of the characters – I had no idea whose side I should be on and so it was just a film about a bunch of men trying to kill each other. Perhaps if you’re a massive fan of Takeshi Kitano, you’ll love it.

Outrage Beyond screens at Greater Union on Wednesday, August 7 at 9pm and on Friday, August 9 at 9pm. To book tickets, visit http://miff.com.au/

Tokyo Family (2013) – MIFF Film Review

Japan, 146 mins

Shukichi and Tomiko come to Tokyo from their remote island village to visit their three children. However, between his son’s medical practice, his daughter’s hairdressing business and his other son’s late night theatre work, they have little time for their parents. Over the course of a very long film, the children are forced to look at what is important to them, and for their parents to lament the changes in society.

The characters are delightful and the film feels very natural, however I found it far too long and I had very little interest in any of them. I couldn’t understand why the children had not planned for a rare visit from their parents, and just ended up feeling terribly sad for their parents.

Tokyo Family screens at the Forum on Friday, July 26 at 11am and at Greater Union on Saturday, August 3^rd at 1:30pm.

 

Capturing Dad (2012) – MIFF Film Review

Japan  74 mins

Hazuki (Erisa Yanagi) and Koharu (Nanoka Matsubara) are sisters growing up in Numazu, Japan; one is in high school and one a bit older. Their mother (Makiko Watanabe) learns that their father, who left fourteen years earlier, is extremely ill and sends her daughters to his deathbed with one mission – to take a photo of him so she can laugh in his face. Neither girl is keen, but they follow their mother’s wish. When they arrive, they discover their father has passed away and they must deal with family they don’t know and grief that they can’t comprehend.

The film has a very low-budget feel, with simple shots and stilted acting. However, despite the flaws, it is a really heartfelt and delightful film. The daughters are both dutiful and gently rebellious, and the relationships feel genuine. Capturing Dad is an excellent choice for the Next Gen program – a film that raises issues around identity, death and family without being heartbreakingly painful.

Capturing Dad is screening at ACMI on Wednesday, August 7^th at 11am and at ACMI on Friday, August 9^th at 2pm. School bookings and teacher resources are available.