Palais-Tokyo-Fist@Pleine-peau.com
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Tue, 9 May 2000 10:26:17 +0200
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A masterwork from one of Japan's
greatest contemporary =
filmmakers, Shinya
Tsukamoto. His other creations, =
most
notably the sci-fi mindblower =
Tetsuo
(1986), have all contained =
explicit
fantastic and supernatural =
elements.
Tokyo Fist, on the other hand, =
is a boxing
movie, but unlike any other =
boxing movie
you've ever seen. It eschews any =
and all
conventions, presenting a bleak =
vision of
life in modern-day Japan. It's a =
wild and
often upsetting film that you =
won't soon
forget.=20
Tsukamoto is
among the most
interesting
filmmakers
around, and
one of the
only true
auteurs.=20
The Package
Shinya Tsukamoto's stunning =
first film,
Tetsuo, had a man metamorphose =
into a
giant robot-creature. Working on =
a
shoestring budget, Tsukamoto =
wrote,
produced, directed, =
photographed,
edited, designed the props and =
even
played the lead role in that =
film. His hard
work paid off. The film was an
international cult hit. =
Naturally, Tetsuo's
greatest success was in its =
native Japan,
where it spawned an entire =
cyberpunk
sub-genre (see Pinnochio 964 and =
Death
Powder).=20
Unfortunately, Tsukamoto's two
follow-up features Hiruko The =
Goblin
(1989) and Tetsuo 2 (1991), =
despite
undeniable flashes of =
brilliance, were
vastly inferior to his debut =
effort. It was
beginning to seem like Tsukamoto =
was a
one-shot wonder...but then Tokyo =
Fist
appeared in 1995 and proved =
otherwise.=20
Tsukamoto once again handled =
the
majority of the technical chores =
himself;
he remains one of the modern =
cinema's
only true auteurs. He also =
played the lead
role, actually undergoing the =
intense
physical regimen depicted in the =
film.
Most critics agree that this is =
his finest
work to date, reaffirming =
Tsukamoto as
one of the most interesting and
challenging filmmakers on the =
planet.=20
An all-out
psychic duel,
definitely not
for the
squeamish.=20
The Story
Tsukamoto plays Tsuda, a wimpy
insurance salesman who is =
engaged to
Hizuro, an apparently normal =
young
woman. Unfortunately, =
muscle-headed
boxer Takuji an old friend of =
Tsuda's=20
enters the scene and seduces =
Hizuro
away from him. Tsuda resolves to =
get her
back, and begins training to =
become a
boxer himself. Drunk on the =
violence
these two exhibit, Hizuro begins =
her own
metamorphosis, mutilating her =
body with
tattoos and piercing. The story =
boils
down to a three-way psychic duel =
of
sorts, in a blood-gushing finale =
definitely
not for the squeamish.=20
That's about all the "plot" we =
get. The
film is an extremely =
claustrophobic three
character piece...or, if you =
like, four
character piece, the fourth =
character
being Tokyo itself. As these =
three lunatics
become increasingly obsessed =
with
destroying each other and =
themselves, the
city is always present in the =
fore and
background, with its giant =
sky-scrapers,
faceless crowds and sterile, =
futuristic
architecture.=20
Tsukamoto's strengths are =
definitely
not in the storytelling =
department, but
then the story is clearly not =
important
here. We're meant to experience =
this
twisted tale through the =
disturbing
images with which Tsukamoto =
fills the
screen.=20
Tsukamoto
creates an
intense
cinematic
universe
entirely his
own.=20
The Direction
If this film were any more =
intense, we'd
need a seatbelt to view it. =
Tsukamoto
eschews conventional movie =
logic,
creating a cinematic universe =
uniquely his
own. At times it resembles a =
form of
surrealist poetry, with the =
visuals
intended to trigger off =
associations in
viewers' minds rather than =
impart a
coherent narrative.=20
Foremost among the many =
memorable
images on display are the =
depictions of
modern Tokyo's cityscape, a =
dystopian
nightmare photographed from the
strangest possible angles. =
Living in this
deranged landscape, it's no =
wonder all
the characters are obsessive and =
insane.=20
Many viewers will be driven =
away by the
sheer kineticism of the whole =
enterprise.
The camera literally never stops =
moving
and the editing makes even music =
videos
look restrained. As the =
characters
pummel, shout at, and slam into =
one
another, Tsukamoto creates a =
dark
symphony of flesh, metal, motion =
and
blood.=20
Vital Statistics
Tokyo Fist
Distributed through Video Search =
of Miami
Director: Shinya Tsukamoto
Producer: Shinya Tsukamoto
Screenplay: Shinya Tsukamoto
Cinematographer: Shinya =
Tsukamoto
Editor: Shinya Tsukamoto
Cast: Shinya Tsukamoto, Kaori =
Fujii, Kohji
Tsukamoto, Naoto Takenaka=20
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<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial=20
size=3D2><BR> =
&=
nbsp; &n=
bsp; =20
A masterwork from one of=20
Japan's<BR> &n=
bsp; &nb=
sp; &nbs=
p; =20
greatest contemporary filmmakers,=20
Shinya<BR> &nb=
sp; &nbs=
p;  =
; =20
Tsukamoto. His other creations,=20
most<BR>  =
; =
&=
nbsp; =20
notably the sci-fi mindblower=20
Tetsuo<BR> &nb=
sp; &nbs=
p;  =
; =20
(1986), have all contained=20
explicit<BR> &=
nbsp; &n=
bsp; &nb=
sp; =20
fantastic and supernatural=20
elements.<BR> =
&=
nbsp; &n=
bsp; =20
Tokyo Fist, on the other hand, is a=20
boxing<BR> &nb=
sp; &nbs=
p;  =
; =20
movie, but unlike any other boxing=20
movie<BR> &nbs=
p;  =
; =
=20
you've ever seen. It eschews any and=20
all<BR> =
&=
nbsp; &n=
bsp; =20
conventions, presenting a bleak vision=20
of<BR> &=
nbsp; &n=
bsp; &nb=
sp; =20
life in modern-day Japan. It's a wild=20
and<BR> =
&=
nbsp; &n=
bsp; =20
often upsetting film that you won't=20
soon<BR>  =
; =
&=
nbsp; =20
forget. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial=20
size=3D2> &nbs=
p;  =
; =20
Tsukamoto=20
is<BR> &=
nbsp; =20
among the=20
most<BR>  =
; =
=20
interesting<BR> &nbs=
p;  =
; =20
filmmakers<BR>  =
; =
=20
around,=20
and<BR> =
&=
nbsp; =20
one of=20
the<BR> =
&=
nbsp; =20
only=20
true<BR>  =
; =
=20
auteurs.=20
<BR> &nb=
sp; &nbs=
p;  =
; =20
The Package</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial=20
size=3D2> &nbs=
p;  =
; =
=20
Shinya Tsukamoto's stunning first=20
film,<BR> &nbs=
p;  =
; =
=20
Tetsuo, had a man metamorphose into=20
a<BR> &n=
bsp; &nb=
sp; &nbs=
p; =20
giant robot-creature. Working on=20
a<BR> &n=
bsp; &nb=
sp; &nbs=
p; =20
shoestring budget, Tsukamoto=20
wrote,<BR> &nb=
sp; &nbs=
p;  =
; =20
produced, directed,=20
photographed,<BR> &n=
bsp; &nb=
sp; &nbs=
p; =20
edited, designed the props and=20
even<BR>  =
; =
&=
nbsp; =20
played the lead role in that film. His=20
hard<BR>  =
; =
&=
nbsp; =20
work paid off. The film was=20
an<BR> &=
nbsp; &n=
bsp; &nb=
sp; =20
international cult hit. Naturally,=20
Tetsuo's<BR> &=
nbsp; &n=
bsp; &nb=
sp; =20
greatest success was in its native=20
Japan,<BR> &nb=
sp; &nbs=
p;  =
; =20
where it spawned an entire=20
cyberpunk<BR> =
&=
nbsp; &n=
bsp; =20
sub-genre (see Pinnochio 964 and=20
Death<BR> &nbs=
p;  =
; =
=20
Powder).=20
<BR> &nb=
sp; &nbs=
p;  =
; =20
Unfortunately, Tsukamoto's=20
two<BR> =
&=
nbsp; &n=
bsp; =20
follow-up features Hiruko The=20
Goblin<BR> &nb=
sp; &nbs=
p;  =
; =20
(1989) and Tetsuo 2 (1991),=20
despite<BR> &n=
bsp; &nb=
sp; &nbs=
p; =20
undeniable flashes of brilliance,=20
were<BR>  =
; =
&=
nbsp; =20
vastly inferior to his debut effort. It=20
was<BR> =
&=
nbsp; &n=
bsp; =20
beginning to seem like Tsukamoto was=20
a<BR> &n=
bsp; &nb=
sp; &nbs=
p; =20
one-shot wonder...but then Tokyo=20
Fist<BR>  =
; =
&=
nbsp; =20
appeared in 1995 and proved otherwise.=20
<BR> &nb=
sp; &nbs=
p;  =
; =20
Tsukamoto once again handled=20
the<BR> =
&=
nbsp; &n=
bsp; =20
majority of the technical chores=20
himself;<BR> &=
nbsp; &n=
bsp; &nb=
sp; =20
he remains one of the modern=20
cinema's<BR> &=
nbsp; &n=
bsp; &nb=
sp; =20
only true auteurs. He also played the=20
lead<BR>  =
; =
&=
nbsp; =20
role, actually undergoing the=20
intense<BR> &n=
bsp; &nb=
sp; &nbs=
p; =20
physical regimen depicted in the=20
film.<BR> &nbs=
p;  =
; =
=20
Most critics agree that this is his=20
finest<BR> &nb=
sp; &nbs=
p;  =
; =20
work to date, reaffirming Tsukamoto=20
as<BR> &=
nbsp; &n=
bsp; &nb=
sp; =20
one of the most interesting=20
and<BR> =
&=
nbsp; &n=
bsp; =20
challenging filmmakers on the planet. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial=20
size=3D2> &nbs=
p;  =
; =20
An=20
all-out<BR> &n=
bsp; &nb=
sp;=20
psychic=20
duel,<BR> &nbs=
p; =20
definitely=20
not<BR> =
&=
nbsp; =20
for=20
the<BR> =
&=
nbsp; =20
squeamish.=20
<BR> &nb=
sp; &nbs=
p;  =
; =20
The Story</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial=20
size=3D2> &nbs=
p;  =
; =
=20
Tsukamoto plays Tsuda, a=20
wimpy<BR> &nbs=
p;  =
; =
=20
insurance salesman who is engaged=20
to<BR> &=
nbsp; &n=
bsp; &nb=
sp; =20
Hizuro, an apparently normal=20
young<BR> &nbs=
p;  =
; =
=20
woman. Unfortunately,=20
muscle-headed<BR> &n=
bsp; &nb=
sp; &nbs=
p; =20
boxer Takuji an old friend of Tsuda's=20
<BR> &nb=
sp; &nbs=
p;  =
; =20
enters the scene and seduces=20
Hizuro<BR> &nb=
sp; &nbs=
p;  =
; =20
away from him. Tsuda resolves to get=20
her<BR> =
&=
nbsp; &n=
bsp; =20
back, and begins training to become=20
a<BR> &n=
bsp; &nb=
sp; &nbs=
p; =20
boxer himself. Drunk on the=20
violence<BR> &=
nbsp; &n=
bsp; &nb=
sp; =20
these two exhibit, Hizuro begins her=20
own<BR> =
&=
nbsp; &n=
bsp; =20
metamorphosis, mutilating her body=20
with<BR>  =
; =
&=
nbsp; =20
tattoos and piercing. The story=20
boils<BR> &nbs=
p;  =
; =
=20
down to a three-way psychic duel=20
of<BR> &=
nbsp; &n=
bsp; &nb=
sp; =20
sorts, in a blood-gushing finale=20
definitely<BR>  =
; =
&=
nbsp; =20
not for the squeamish.=20
<BR> &nb=
sp; &nbs=
p;  =
; =20
That's about all the "plot" we get.=20
The<BR> =
&=
nbsp; &n=
bsp; =20
film is an extremely claustrophobic=20
three<BR> &nbs=
p;  =
; =
=20
character piece...or, if you like,=20
four<BR>  =
; =
&=
nbsp; =20
character piece, the fourth=20
character<BR> =
&=
nbsp; &n=
bsp; =20
being Tokyo itself. As these three=20
lunatics<BR> &=
nbsp; &n=
bsp; &nb=
sp; =20
become increasingly obsessed=20
with<BR>  =
; =
&=
nbsp; =20
destroying each other and themselves,=20
the<BR> =
&=
nbsp; &n=
bsp; =20
city is always present in the fore=20
and<BR> =
&=
nbsp; &n=
bsp; =20
background, with its giant=20
sky-scrapers,<BR> &n=
bsp; &nb=
sp; &nbs=
p; =20
faceless crowds and sterile,=20
futuristic<BR>  =
; =
&=
nbsp; =20
architecture.=20
<BR> &nb=
sp; &nbs=
p;  =
; =20
Tsukamoto's strengths are=20
definitely<BR>  =
; =
&=
nbsp; =20
not in the storytelling department,=20
but<BR> =
&=
nbsp; &n=
bsp; =20
then the story is clearly not=20
important<BR> =
&=
nbsp; &n=
bsp; =20
here. We're meant to experience=20
this<BR>  =
; =
&=
nbsp; =20
twisted tale through the=20
disturbing<BR>  =
; =
&=
nbsp; =20
images with which Tsukamoto fills=20
the<BR> =
&=
nbsp; &n=
bsp; =20
screen. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial=20
size=3D2><BR> =
&=
nbsp; =20
Tsukamoto<BR> =
&=
nbsp; =20
creates=20
an<BR> &=
nbsp; &n=
bsp; =20
intense<BR> &n=
bsp; &nb=
sp; =20
cinematic<BR> =
&=
nbsp; =20
universe<BR> &=
nbsp; &n=
bsp; =20
entirely=20
his<BR> =
&=
nbsp; =20
own.=20
<BR> &nb=
sp; &nbs=
p;  =
; =20
The Direction</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial=20
size=3D2> &nbs=
p;  =
; =
=20
If this film were any more intense,=20
we'd<BR>  =
; =
&=
nbsp; =20
need a seatbelt to view it.=20
Tsukamoto<BR> =
&=
nbsp; &n=
bsp; =20
eschews conventional movie=20
logic,<BR> &nb=
sp; &nbs=
p;  =
; =20
creating a cinematic universe uniquely=20
his<BR> =
&=
nbsp; &n=
bsp; =20
own. At times it resembles a form=20
of<BR> &=
nbsp; &n=
bsp; &nb=
sp; =20
surrealist poetry, with the=20
visuals<BR> &n=
bsp; &nb=
sp; &nbs=
p; =20
intended to trigger off associations=20
in<BR> &=
nbsp; &n=
bsp; &nb=
sp; =20
viewers' minds rather than impart=20
a<BR> &n=
bsp; &nb=
sp; &nbs=
p; =20
coherent narrative.=20
<BR> &nb=
sp; &nbs=
p;  =
; =20
Foremost among the many=20
memorable<BR> =
&=
nbsp; &n=
bsp; =20
images on display are the depictions=20
of<BR> &=
nbsp; &n=
bsp; &nb=
sp; =20
modern Tokyo's cityscape, a=20
dystopian<BR> =
&=
nbsp; &n=
bsp; =20
nightmare photographed from=20
the<BR> =
&=
nbsp; &n=
bsp; =20
strangest possible angles. Living in=20
this<BR>  =
; =
&=
nbsp; =20
deranged landscape, it's no wonder=20
all<BR> =
&=
nbsp; &n=
bsp; =20
the characters are obsessive and insane.=20
<BR> &nb=
sp; &nbs=
p;  =
; =20
Many viewers will be driven away by=20
the<BR> =
&=
nbsp; &n=
bsp; =20
sheer kineticism of the whole=20
enterprise.<BR> &nbs=
p;  =
; =
=20
The camera literally never stops=20
moving<BR> &nb=
sp; &nbs=
p;  =
; =20
and the editing makes even music=20
videos<BR> &nb=
sp; &nbs=
p;  =
; =20
look restrained. As the=20
characters<BR>  =
; =
&=
nbsp; =20
pummel, shout at, and slam into=20
one<BR> =
&=
nbsp; &n=
bsp; =20
another, Tsukamoto creates a=20
dark<BR>  =
; =
&=
nbsp; =20
symphony of flesh, metal, motion=20
and<BR> =
&=
nbsp; &n=
bsp; =20
blood. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial=20
size=3D2> &nbs=
p;  =
; =
=20
Vital Statistics</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial=20
size=3D2> &nbs=
p;  =
; =
=20
Tokyo=20
Fist<BR>  =
; =
&=
nbsp; =20
Distributed through Video Search of=20
Miami<BR> &nbs=
p;  =
; =
=20
Director: Shinya=20
Tsukamoto<BR> =
&=
nbsp; &n=
bsp; =20
Producer: Shinya=20
Tsukamoto<BR> =
&=
nbsp; &n=
bsp; =20
Screenplay: Shinya=20
Tsukamoto<BR> =
&=
nbsp; &n=
bsp; =20
Cinematographer: Shinya=20
Tsukamoto<BR> =
&=
nbsp; &n=
bsp; =20
Editor: Shinya=20
Tsukamoto<BR> =
&=
nbsp; &n=
bsp; =20
Cast: Shinya Tsukamoto, Kaori Fujii,=20
Kohji<BR> &nbs=
p;  =
; =
=20
Tsukamoto, Naoto Takenaka </FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>
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