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Devastated to hear about the death of Nobuhiko Obayashi, whose work was consistently championed by the good folks @japansociety, who, in addition to screening his older titles, also screened his vital later films. https://twitter.com/simonsaybrams/status/1018564487786500096?s=20
They also screened SCHOOL IN THE CROSSHAIRS, which I took my dad to see (he loved it; "Is HOUSE" like this?). And SEVEN WEEKS. https://twitter.com/simonsaybrams/status/616015370873380864?s=20
And then there was HOUSE: https://www.slantmagazine.com/dvd/house-2/
Thanks to @outcastmarc for helping to facilitate a mini-renaissance of Obayashi screenings here in America. Very grateful.
Thanks to @outcastmarc for helping to facilitate a mini-renaissance of Obayashi screenings here in America. Very grateful.
Wait, shit, I did write about Obayashi's SEVEN WEEKS: https://www.villagevoice.com/2015/07/07/deep-cuts-the-challenging-pleasures-of-this-years-japan-cuts-film-fest/
It was always depressing to see Obayashi patted on the head by American critics who only saw him as an expressive weirdo. His later movies are poignant, densely novelistic, and surreal in ways that bring to mind later films of Resnais, Ruiz, and Suzuki. RIP to a giant.
Also wrote briefly about Obayashi's HANAGATAMI here: https://www.rogerebert.com/festivals/2018-japan-cuts-festival-preview
I hope Criterion or another intrepid US label considers releasing some of Obayashi's other titles, including last year's LABYRINTH OF CINEMA, but also THE DRIFTING CLASSROOM, SCHOOL IN THE CROSSHAIRS (yes!), THE GIRL WHO LEAPT THROUGH TIME, VISITOR IN THE EYE, KENYA BOY, etc.
Sigh. Now I gotta see if I can find my DVD of TAKE ME AWAY! I think it's here...somewhere.
