New Asian Cinema on BluRays From Britain

By Christopher P. Jacobs
Staff Writer

MAD DETECTIVE

Hong Kong cinema has gained a reputation over the past few decades, moving from martial arts action to intense detective dramas. Japanese cinema broke into international prominence about 60 years ago with a mix of historical samurai films and meticulously observant contemporary stories (especially through the films of the late Akira Kurosawa, whose 100th birthday was last month).

Both industries continue to produce noteworthy films, although unfortunately they often do not make it to mainstream American theatres or even video distribution. Their styles and approaches are literally so foreign to America’s multiplex patrons that they’re either not understood or misunderstood, and are thus shrugged off as “boring” or openly despised because they’re not what the viewers expected.

“Mad Detective” (2007), directed by Johnnie To and Wai Ka Fai, was a smash hit in Hong Kong, played at film festivals around the world, but had a disastrous U.S. release in just one New York theatre for two weeks in July of 2008. It’s only available on video as an imported DVD through Amazon (at about $25), but can be bought on BluRay direct from Amazon.co.uk for only about $20 plus shipping.

“Tokyo Sonata” (2008), directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa (no relation to Akira) won the Jury Prize “Un Certain Regard” at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival. The film premiered in Japan that September, and played in the U.S. throughout most of 2009 in a very limited release that never reached more than 10 theatres at a time. It is actually scheduled for a US DVD release this May at $25 from the Koch Vision label, often noted for mediocre transfers, but is already available as a DVD import from YesAsia in the $15-$20 range, and can be found on BluRay for about $21 plus shipping through Amazon.co.uk.

The region-free BluRay releases of “Mad Detective” and “Tokyo Story” are numbers 2 and 3 respectively from Britain’s well-respected Eureka! “Masters of Cinema” series (number 1 was F. W. Murnau’s 1927 silent classic “Sunrise” and number 4 is Jean-Luc Godard’s 1964 stylish avant-garde “Une Femme Mariée”).

“Mad Detective” at first glance may seem more accessible to western audiences, with a standard and often violent murder mystery formula of police partners investigating what may be internal department corruption. However, Johnnie To and Wai Ka Fai give it so many off-beat twists and layers of plot that it may easily take multiple viewings to figure out all that is going on. In fact the audience response for its abortive American theatrical release gave it only 16.6.% combined “A” and “B” rating, and a 75% “F” rating.

A Hong Kong detective has the unique ability to see the other sides to people’s personalities as individual people, which helps him solve tough crimes but ultimately drives him insane. To’s style involves constantly shifting points of view between the insane title character and his partner, so it takes a while before the viewer can recognize what’s really happening and what is only in the mind of the disturbed Detective Bun. His former partner decides to ask this “mad detective” for help on his latest case, leading to a fast-moving but odd, complex, and very intriguing plot for those who can follow it.

The Eureka BluRay looks very good and has a fine soundtrack with the original Chinese dialogue and optional English subtitles. It has a few bonus features, including interviews with the director and cast members shot at various European film festivals, the original U.K. trailer, and a 16-page booklet with an excellent analytical essay by Wisconsin film professor David Bordwell.

“MAD DETECTIVE” on BluRay: Movie: A / Video: A / Audio: A / Extras: B

TOKYO SONATA

“Tokyo Sonata” is a low-key and very moving domestic drama from Kiyoshi Kurosawa, better-known for his horror films like “Cure” and “Kairo” (the later remade as “Pulse” in the US). It is a very straightforward story of a middle-class family whose father is laid off from his long-time office job, but to avoid embarrassment, he pretends he is still working as he attempts to find new employment.

Kurosawa’s camera lingers leisurely over carefully composed, delicately staged scenes of everyday life in a style that is reminiscent of the classic works of Yasujiro Ozu. We observe the strained family relationships resulting from lack of interpersonal communication, from ingrained tradition vs. the fear of starting over from scratch. Powerful performances all around let us identify with the inner struggles of the father, the mother, and each of the two very different sons, one a young musical prodigy and the other a slacker who hopes to join the American army as a way out of economic distress.

This film managed a 36% combined “A” and “B” audience rating during its US release, but still had a 50% “F” rating, apparently either too slow-moving for Americans or merely too uncomfortable to watch for viewers insecure with their own jobs. Its world-wide critical acclaim testifies to “Tokyo Sonata’s” universal story about individual dignity and human relationships amidst today’s uncertain economic climate.

“Tokyo Sonata” looks and sounds great on Eureka’s BluRay, with optional English subtitles. Extras include an hour-long “making-of” documentary, interviews and discussions with the stars and director at the Tokyo premiere, and the original UK trailer, plus a 28-page booklet with a good essay by Brooklyn writer-filmmaker B. Kite.

“TOKYO SONATA” on BluRay: Movie: A / Video: A / Audio: A / Extras: B

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