Tuesday, September 25, 2007
oiran around the block
"Sakuran" is a punk-pop mash-up of high visual style and historical drama about a strong-willed woman (Anna Tsuchiya of "Kamikaze Girls" fame, who just generally rocks) trying to find love among the brothels of 19th century Edo's infamous Yoshiwara district. It shares a certain heightened reality and day-glo sensibility with some other recent Japanese films that I've enjoyed such as "Survive Style 5+," "Funky Forest," and "Otakus In Love," but with a far more accessible storyline. Also of note, it's adapted from her own manga of the same name by Moyoco Anno, wife of Hideaki Anno, creator/director of "Evangelion." Probably not a coincidence that she's also acted in both "Funky Forest" and "Otakus In Love," then. Anyways, Twitch has got a good review, and the trailer will probably give you an idea if this is up your alley.