An excellent anthology film comprising three determinedly unsentimental stories about the struggles of modern women. Despite getting on for 60 years of age it feels remarkably modern. Both in its depiction of women making their own way in the world and its sexual frankness (it’s certainly way ahead of anything coming out of Hollywood circa 1960). Masumura muse Ayako Wakao … Read the rest
Month: April 2018
Doppelganger (Kiyoshi Kurosawa, Japan, 2003)
Hayasaki (Koji Yakusho) the genius inventor of the world’s first artificial body is stunned when his own doppelganger turns up and offers to help clear away all the stresses in his own life so he can concentrate on his work. With the help of hired thug Kimishima (Yusuke Santamaria) and Yuka (Hiromi Nagasaku), a woman whose own brother has also … Read the rest
Big Bad Sis (Sun Chung, Hong Kong, 1976)
Seamstress Ying (Chen Ping) beats the crap out of a garment factory’s resident dyke when she tries to rape newbie Fong (Chong Lee) in the toilets. After hearing of Fong and co-worker Sai’s (Siu Yam-Yam) tragic histories Ying agrees to train the two girls in street fighting. But in the process Ying is brought face to face with her past … Read the rest
Retribution (Kiyoshi Kurosawa, Japan, 2006)
Detective Noboru (Koji Yakusho) investigates the killing of a woman found drowned in a puddle of salt-water. As more victims are murdered in the same manner Noboru finds himself haunted by a figure in a red dress (Riona Hazuki) accusing him of her death. But when the victim’s killer turns out to be her ex-boyfriend Noboru realises that the vengeful … Read the rest
The Sword And The Lute (Sui Jang-Hung, Hong Kong, 1967)
Kuei Wu (Jimmy Wang-yu) and Lien Chu (Chin Ping) are escorting the deadly dart-spitting Phoenix Lute when it’s stolen by the Flying Tiger Clan whose leader, Wei Feihu (Miao Ching), frantically seeks a cure after his own son is poisoned by the Lute’s darts during battle. But Feihu’s attempt to trick the innocent Shen Shuwen (Yueh Hua) into leading him … Read the rest
Gorath (Ishiro Honda, Japan, 1962)
The Earth learns that an approaching planetoid named Gorath is on a collision course. Dr.Tazawa (Ryo Ikebe) persuades the United Nations to co-operate in the construction of a massive nuclear engine at the South Pole whose thrust can literally push the Earth out of Gorath’s path. But a space mission to gather data on Gorath leaves astronaut Kanai (Akira Kubo) … Read the rest
