Poetry and Mayhem, Korean Style

Kim Ji-woon's "A Bittersweet Life" is a superb, modern film noir. Gripping from start to finish, it intersperses a stream of suspense and ultra-violence with glimpses of poetry which ultimately hold the film together and provide meaning. The overall effect is highly memorable, not least due to the film's rich visual beauty.

Tartan's DVD transfer is recommendable.

Audio Ginei* Pig? Try This!

This CD recommendation is for adventurous listeners, or for those already turned on to the beauty of traditional or classical Asian vocal music. Each song in this compilation is a recital of poetry, sung in a highly melismatic style, with a "tightened throat" intonation that gave the genre, Ginei, its name. There is very little rhythmic propulsion to the tunes - the voices conjure an effect like fragrant smoke rising from a brazier, hanging lightly in the air. The compiled singers are beautifully accompanied by instruments that vary from track to track, ranging from traditional Japanese instruments to a tasteful solo organ(!)).


Most of the notes are in Japanese, though there is a brief paragraph in English on the Ginei genre (much appreciated by this gaijin). The recordings are high-quality mono, which leads me to believe that they were made in the late 50's / early 60's - I thus assume that this is a compilation of historical Ginei recordings, and the superb quality suggests a prime period for the genre.

Sound samples and CD available at HMV Japan: http://www.hmv.co.jp/product/detail/1937103

^* Yes, I know how to spell Guinea, thanks. Jeez!

Great Japanese Cinema, Part 1 of Many

I saw a lot of films in 2008, and none impressed me more than this one: "Hara Kiri" (a.k.a. "Harakiri") (1963), by Masaki Kobayashi.

Hara Kiri is set in 17th Century Japan: the consolidation of power within the Shogunate is causing many clans to disintegrate, leaving many former Samurai doomed to subsist as desperate Ronin. The film is a dark, stirring, and far-reaching commentary on society and societal institutions: hypocrisy, shallowness, and abuse of power are powerfully addressed.

The acting is superb, with a tremendous lead performance from Tatsuya Nakadai, one of the greatest of Japanese actors and a long-time collaborator with Akira Kurosawa (e.g. Ran; Kagemusha). The music, composed by Toru Takemitsu, is particularly effective and yet another reason to see this film.

The film scooped the Cannes Special Jury Prize, which (at the time of the award) was the second most important award of the Cannes Film Festival.

I recommend Criterion's DVD, which is typically excellent, and comes with many extras.