I’ve become a fan of director Takashi Miike. His recent
samurai films are amazing to behind. ICHI THE KILLER is gore fueled yet
compelling to watch. Now his film AUDITION is getting the Arrow Video treatment
and it too is a sight to behold.
The movie opens with the death of Shigeharu Aoyama’s (Ryo
Ishibashi) wife in a hospital. Leaving behind her husband and her young son
they grow together and live happily enough. Now in his teen years his son Shigehiko
suggests he move on and find someone new in his life he begins to consider it. At
his job where he works he discusses this with his friend Yasuhisa Yoshikawa
(Jun Kunimura), a film producer. Yasuhisa suggests that they hold auditions for
a film they might produce in order to interview different women. In doing so he
might find someone compatible to him and begin dating her.
The plan doesn’t seem to be going well until Asami Yamazaki
(Eihi Shiina) walks in. Something about her immediately attracts Shigeharu to
her. Her resume and her experiences fascinate him. He doesn’t call her at first
but finally does so. We see her sitting by the phone waiting for his call,
little more in her apartment than the phone and something moving around in a
large sack. After talking they arrange to meet and eventually begin dating.
On a weekend getaway Shigeharu is planning on proposing. As
they undress he notices the burn scars on her body. When they finally lay down
together, Asami demands that he pledge undying love to her and her alone and he
agrees. The next morning he wakes to find her gone.
This leads to Shigeharu’s search for Asami. As he attempts
to track her down following the items on her resume he begins to learn that she
might not be the woman she claimed she was. Job locations don’t exist and at
the dance studio where she claims to have studied he finds a man in a
wheelchair with prosthetic feet. The bar she claimed to have worked in has been
closed for a year after the murder and dismemberment of the owner.
Shigeharu returns home despondent but unaware that Asami has
broken into his house and drugged his liquor. Paralyzed she talks to him,
enraged because she found the picture of his deceased wife and thinks he is
married. It is then that the weirdness begins, something most viewers won’t be
prepared for and the weak stomached will want to miss. But it is also
captivating movie making.
Miike has never been one to shy away from violence and this
film is no exception. The movie was notorious when released and stunned
audiences. And yet while it contains some of the most violent moments on film
even now let alone when it was released in 1999, it still offers a world of
innocence and beauty as well. In addition to that they story of two lonely
people, both placed in their own worlds of isolation due to very different
circumstances, is a touching tale. The end result is a movie worth watching,
discussing and experiencing.
Arrow Video continues to present movies like this in the
most amazing fashion offering the film in a 2k restoration from original film
elements. If that weren’t enough they’ve included a number of extras that will
entertain as well. These include an audio commentary track with Miike and
screenwriter Daisuke Tengan, a brand new commentary track by Miike biographer
Tom Mes discussing the film and it’s source novel, an introduction by Miike,
“Ties That Bind” a new interview with Miike, interviews with stars Ryo
Ishibashi, Eihi Shiina, Renji Ishibashi and Ren Osugi, “Damaged Romance” an
appreciation by Japanese historian Tony Rayns, trailers, a reversible sleeve
with original art and newly commissioned artwork by Matthew Griffin and for the
first pressing only an illustrated collector’s booklet featuring writing on the
film by Anton Bitel.
I’ve praised Arrow Video in the past and will continue to do
so in the future as long as they offer movies in such great condition this way.
Fans of world cinema and movies in general will want to make a point to check
this one out. Just make sure you can stomach violence before doing so.
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