The Folk Crusaders were a Japanese pop music group from the 1960s and are cast as the three leading men in this film that is somewhat reminiscent of a Japanese version of a Beatles movie...somewhat.
Nagisa Ôshima directs this film and it bears his odd mark, as the movie is VERY surreal throughout. Now I must say that I noticed a couple reviews mentioned Jean-Luc Godard and despite what one said, I could find no evidence that Ôshima ever worked for or with Godard--though his style is very reminiscent of Godard as both represent the New Wave movements in their respective countries.
I liked the basic idea of this film and some story elements were quite compelling. It's just that the style was a bit annoying to me--and I am not a huge fan of the New Wave style of film making, as it often deliberately tried to annoy or confuse the audience. Call me weird, but I prefer a film to make sense and NOT confuse the crap out of me.
The film begins with a funny scene where the three guys go swimming at the beach. Some unseen hand reaches out from under the sand and steals their clothes--leaving Korean clothes and a bit of money in its place. From this point on, the guys learn what it's like to be an illegal alien in a country that doesn't want them. What I did not realize is that Koreans were sneaking in to Japan back then to avoid service in the Vietnam War. VERY FEW Americans ever heard that the South Koreans sent many, many troops to fight in the Vietnam War. And much of the film is intended as an anti-Vietnam War piece. This is pretty tough stuff here but it's handled mostly as comedy.
I could try to describe the rest of the film but frankly it's awfully confusing and some of the other reviews have already done this. What bothered me, though, is that about halfway through the movie, it all started again and was virtually identical--though the three guys seemed to have learned by having played the scenes before and so they are able to make it all end differently the second time. Clever, perhaps, but a chore to have to basically re-watch about 40% of the film! As a result, I just felt the whole thing was over-indulgent. The poignancy was lost as a result and it seems like an opportunity lost.
Nagisa Ôshima directs this film and it bears his odd mark, as the movie is VERY surreal throughout. Now I must say that I noticed a couple reviews mentioned Jean-Luc Godard and despite what one said, I could find no evidence that Ôshima ever worked for or with Godard--though his style is very reminiscent of Godard as both represent the New Wave movements in their respective countries.
I liked the basic idea of this film and some story elements were quite compelling. It's just that the style was a bit annoying to me--and I am not a huge fan of the New Wave style of film making, as it often deliberately tried to annoy or confuse the audience. Call me weird, but I prefer a film to make sense and NOT confuse the crap out of me.
The film begins with a funny scene where the three guys go swimming at the beach. Some unseen hand reaches out from under the sand and steals their clothes--leaving Korean clothes and a bit of money in its place. From this point on, the guys learn what it's like to be an illegal alien in a country that doesn't want them. What I did not realize is that Koreans were sneaking in to Japan back then to avoid service in the Vietnam War. VERY FEW Americans ever heard that the South Koreans sent many, many troops to fight in the Vietnam War. And much of the film is intended as an anti-Vietnam War piece. This is pretty tough stuff here but it's handled mostly as comedy.
I could try to describe the rest of the film but frankly it's awfully confusing and some of the other reviews have already done this. What bothered me, though, is that about halfway through the movie, it all started again and was virtually identical--though the three guys seemed to have learned by having played the scenes before and so they are able to make it all end differently the second time. Clever, perhaps, but a chore to have to basically re-watch about 40% of the film! As a result, I just felt the whole thing was over-indulgent. The poignancy was lost as a result and it seems like an opportunity lost.