Nobuyoshi Araki Movies
- 2003
Nobuyoshi Araki is Japan's most famous and notorious photographer. In a culture where complete female nudity is frowned upon even in men's magazines, Araki has been acclaimed and condemned for his photo books and exhibitions which usually focus upon women, usually nude and often in bold (and sometimes disturbing) poses. While he has been decried as a pornographer and a misogynist in his homeland, many others regard him as singular voice in the photographic arena, and many of the women who work with him have spoke of his sincere love and respect for them. Arakimentari is a film by American documentarian Travis Klose which offers a look at the professional and personal sides of Araki, including his background, his relationships with his models, his less well known portraiture and landscape work, and how he spends his spare time. Also included are interviews with several friends and contemporaries, including musician Björk, photographer Richard Kern, and actor/filmmaker Takeshi Kitano. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nobuyoshi Araki, Beat Takeshi Kitano, (more)
- 2002
Former assistant director to Takeshi Kitano, Hiroshi Shimizu follows up on his 1998 debut, Ikinai -- about a bunch of losers on a bus tour over a cliff -- with this deadpan comedy about a trio of sad sacks at the edge of Japanese society. Iwano (Hiroyuki Ikeuchi) is a failed boxer who now ekes out a living by getting punched in the face by drunken salarymen. Maru, a former teacher, works as his timekeeper, and Sada (Kiyoshiro Imawano), a career drifter, collects the cash from Iwano's clients. All three live together in the same tumble-down rooming house, and after a hard days work, they all drink together at a little outdoor stand run by a mysterious old man (played by cult photographer Nobuyoshi Araki). During the day, Iwano cleans graffiti off walls, Maru works at a hat shop, and Sada hands out tissues to passers-by. As the film progresses, these three losers don't necessarily gain success, or even attain their dreams, but they do change, more or less, for the better. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hiroyuki Ikeuchi, Kiyoshiro Imawano, (more)
