Kiwako Taichi Movies
- 1985
Himatsuri is based on a real life tragedy, in which a Japanese man inexplicably slaughtered his family and then killed himself. Kinya Kitaoji plays the thoroughly self-centered "protagonist," who does what he pleases no matter who he hurts. No one dares question Kitaoji due to his blasting-cap temperament. The only thing Kitaoji holds sacred is the land around him, but he's willing to destroy even that to have his own way. He befouls a lake that is sacred to the Shinto religion, spilling oil into the waters rather than letting them fall into the hands of land speculators. Suddenly experiencing a religious awakening, Kitaoji decides to "atone" -- by murdering his family, then committing suicide. No explanations are offered by director Kenji Nakagami: one takes what one wishes from Himatsuri. The film was released to some English-speaking markets as Fire Festival. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kiwako Taichi, Ryota Nakamoto, (more)
- 1971
In this intricately layered Japanese film, the nature of actresses and what they gain from acting is explored. The lives of three actresses are laid bare, and scenes from their lives are woven in and out of interviews with each of them. Each of them has experienced a traumatic event which contributes to their particular enjoyment of becoming someone else in dramatic roles. One was raped by a schoolteacher, another was sexually abused as a child by her step-father, and the third experienced the hysterical paralysis of her vocal chords due to some unknown cause. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- 1970
Masahiro Shinoda directed this sexy, darkly humorous look at Tokyo's red-light Edo district in 1842, focusing on three characters whose lives intersect. Soshun (Tetsuro Tamba) is the infamous fugitive Buraikan in disguise, Naojiro (Tatsuya Nakadai) is a shiftless lout who dreams of being a Kabuki performer, and Ushimatsu (Shoichi Ozawa) has just left his family. The hip screenplay by filmmaker Shuji Terayama throws in some contemporary touches, comparing the revolutionary spirit of the Tempo era with the 1960s youth movement. Buraikan is still a delight to watch due to the sheer exuberance of its cast and Shinoda's stylish direction. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tatsuya Nakadai, Tetsuro Tamba, (more)
- 1968
Set in feudal Japan, this atmospheric and violent ghost story (whose title literally translates as The Black Cat in the Bush) begins with the brutal murder of two women by a band of mercenary samurai, whose leader is subsequently tracked down, seduced, and murdered by a young woman possessed by the shape-shifting specter of his victim. Called upon to avenge the warrior's death is none other than the woman's former husband, who has been ordered by his superiors to assassinate the guilty party. Plot twists abound as the older, vengeful spirit seeks to exact poetic justice despite the younger ghost's reluctance to destroy the man who once loved her. Though not on the epic level of Kwaidan or Onibaba, this adaptation of an ancient folk tale benefits from the same cultural richness, as well as a touch of social allegory. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kichiemon Nakamura, Nobuko Otowa, (more)
