Cleopatra (Japan, 1970)

Three people from the future are spiritually sent back in time to relive the era of Caesar, Marc Anthony and Cleopatra. As close companions to these key historical figures, they seek to understand the nature of an enemy's plan in their own time.

From Osamu Tezuka, creator of one of the most well-known series ever made; Astro Boy (1952-68), comes a far lesser known film about.. well, aliens and naked ladies? Okay, that's not all it has to offer of course but it's extremely hard to put into words what it tried to convey, but somehow it manages be such a weird and mental experience that it needs to be seen. The official translated version of the film is said to be lost, and at release it was a huge commercial failure. It's definitely worth seeing, if not for anything else but a fun piece of cinema history. It ranges from hilarious to incomprehensibly odd and strange. The animation isn't exactly high quality, but at times very abstract and with a great sense of art. 

Genre: Animation/Adult/Comedy

Haze (Japan, 2005)

A man wakes up to find himself locked in a very tiny, cramped concrete corridor, in which he can barely move. He doesn't remember why he is there or how he got there. He has a terrible stomach injury and is slowly bleeding to death. He begins to edge his way along the narrow maze-like corridors, only to see other people undergoing their own horrible tests though holes in the walls.

Watching Haze is like tumbling down into one of Shinya Tsukamoto's nightmares, and together with him, we're trying to find our way out while also figuring out how we got here and why there's mutilated bodies everywhere. It's a quite short journey (49 min), but it takes you through a cesspool which flows from one of Japans most daring and interesting directors.

Genre: Horror/Mystery

Hana (Japan, 2006)

In 1702, set against the backdrop of a long-delayed and insatiable revenge, a reserved samurai, Aoki Sozaemon, leaves his hometown in Matsumoto to come to bustling Edo in search of his father's killer. Unaccomplished as a swordsman, with his funds quickly drying up, Sozaemon must honour his clan's demand to avenge a disgraceful death, however, when he finally finds his target, he will have to make a difficult decision before a crushing dilemma. Is the way of the samurai stronger than the way of the heart?

Turns out one of my favorite directors, Hirokazu Kore-eda (Nobody Knows, Air Doll), has also made a jidaigeki film, full of samurai and plots of revenge. What Kore-eda does though, is removing the action and replacing it with what he does the best, drama with emotional impact. Sozaemon meets a bunch of people who all effects his life in one way or another. Quite a bit of humor also sneaks its way in here, with quirky characters and funny events. Not one of Kore-eda's best films, but it was great to see him do a kind of low-key samurai film. 

Genre: Comedy/Drama

Tokyo Decadence (Japan, 1992)

A submissive hooker goes about her trade, suffering abuse at the hands of Japanese salarymen and Yakuza types. She's unhappy about her work, and is apparently trying to find some sort of appeasement for the fact that her lover has married.

I get the feeling that Tokyo Decadence (a.k.a. Topaz) is like an adult version of 50 Shades of Grey (2015), a little more dark and disturbing and a little less aimed at horny teens. It's a tad long, and has lengthy erotic scenes, but in my opinion it never ventures into sleazy softcore porn (which it has been classified as at some other websites). The underlying sadness and morally twisted characters elevates it to something else, and the melancholy score covers the whole film in a bleak veil. Not a whole lot of enjoyment for our precious characters, but I often like these sort of dark films. Worth mentioning is that the film is based on a book written by Ryu Murakami who also wrote Audition, which also got a film adaptation by Takashi Miike. 

Genre: Drama

Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence (Japan/UK, 1983)

In 1942 British soldier Jack Celliers comes to a Japanese prison camp. The camp is run by Yonoi, who has a firm belief in discipline, honor and glory. In his view, the allied prisoners are cowards when they chose to surrender instead of committing suicide. One of the prisoners, interpreter John Lawrence, tries to explain the Japanese way of thinking, but is considered a traitor.

I'm a bit ashamed to admit I had no idea that it existed a movie where Takeshi Kitano plays against David Bowie. In another big role we have Ryuichi Sakamoto, a huge rockstar/composer who also wrote the soundtrack, so there's two big name musicians in the lead roles. Directed by Nagisa Oshima, who's behind fantastic films such as In the Realm of the Senses (1976) and Gohatto (1999), he uses his actors to the fullest. Bowie has an incredible presence, and Kitano shines as always, I could never get tired of that man. The actor who played Mr. Lawrence speaks a lot of Japanese in the film, but didn't understand a word of it, instead learning it all phonetically. That's a very fun bit of trivia to know beforehand. Anyhow, Mr. Lawrence is a great film dealing with POW's  without it being just another prison escape rehash. 

Genre: Drama/War

Digital Devil Story (Japan, 1987)

A programming student utilizes occult magic and computer technology to summon a demon into the physical world.

In the mood for some cheesy/awesome anime? Digital Devil Story should satisfy your need for that morning cartoon-show, cool and stylish but also Sailor Moon-silliness. I read somewhere that the makers were inspired by how computers were getting more and more popular and they feared a time when technology would more or less topple mankind. I guess you could say they had legit reasons to be afraid, though it seems slightly excessive to have the Norse God Loki stepping out of your computer screen wanting to slaughter everyone.

As I've stated, the film almost has the feel of a cheesy morning cartoon with an M-rating, but sometimes that's exactly how I like my 80's anime.

Genre: Animation/Action/Fantasy

Welcome Back, Mr. McDonald (Japan, 1997)

A radio play is going to go on air at a Tokyo radio station. It is a weepy melodrama written by housewife Miyako, who is the winner of the competition run by the station. Suddenly, the hot-tempered lead actress Nokko decides she wants the name of her character to be Mary Jane and not Ritsuko. That leads to the chain of events which changes the play completely.

Here's a film with a very simple and concentrated story; a group of voice actors are trying to put together a radio drama. Though, not much goes according to plan as one could guess. So many laugh-out-loud moments in this film, the characters are all very funny and likeable, even the "mean" ones. I haven't seen this film being mentioned at all on a lot of film sites and that's no less than a gigantic mistake. It's an excellent film that leaves you in a great mood and should be considered an hidden classic. 

Genre: Comedy

A Letter to Momo(Japan, 2011)

Clinging to an unfinished letter written by her recently deceased father, young Momo moves with her mother from bustling Tokyo to the remote Japanese island of Shio. However, it's not long before several bizarre occurrences crop up around the previously tranquil island. Momo hears strange mumblings coming from the attic of their home. Annoyed by these creepy goings-on and her mother's refusal to believe them, Momo embarks on a strange and supernatural adventure to discover the source of the mischief, which leads her to a trio of troublesome imps.

I'm so glad I don't have a gang of yokai hanging around, they can be quite something to deal with it turns out. A Letter to Momo uses a very realistic animation style, not unlike the works of Katsuhiro Otomo (Akira), and it looks amazing throughout the film. The animation team worked hard to make it as close to natural movements as possible, which shows a lot in the characters faces and small hand gestures. It's full of Japanese culture and customs, not to mention all the folklore coming to life. The three yokai really are what steals the show with all their antics and outbursts. Momo does a great job of balancing a very mature, sad story with quirky and fun characters, and it's a wonderful film that exceeds were many live-action movies only has tried to tell a similar story of loss and finding happiness again afterwards. 

Genre: Animation/Drama

Sakuran (Japan, 2006)

A young girl is sold into a red-light district brothel and tries to adapt to life as an oiran (courtesan).

Sakuran isn't your typical stale geisha drama, but more like the rebellious sister of period films. A modern, rock-influenced soundtrack go hand in hand with a story that's usually accompanied by lonely koto melodies. The beautiful set designs makes me think of huge theatre productions, and there's a ton of gorgeous shots with cherry trees by moonlight and the colorful environment we're spending our time with. 

Being the directorial debut by Mika Ninagawa, who's famous for her extremely colorful and vivid photography, we're really being treated to her skillful ways of making the picture look like a dazzling, fascinating world. The film is adapted from a manga, so there's plenty of source material to take in. The perfect film to see if you want a stylish geisha film that's not littered with historical inaccuracies like Memoirs of a Geisha (2005). 

Genre: Drama/History

Harmonium (Japan, 2016)

Toshio hires Yasaka in his workshop. This old acquaintance, who has just been released from prison, begins to meddle in Toshio's family life.

It always amazes me how radically a film can make me feel about it in just a short period of time. In the beginning of Harmonium I didn't have the highest of all hopes, but after a while it delivered the goods without hesitation. Heartbreaking yes, but the film honestly earns it by having such a captivating story and believable characters. Also, fans of actor Tadanobu Asano should really give it a watch because here he plays a sinister man that gets under your skin, and someone you love to hate.

Genre: Drama

Sweet Bean (Japan, 2015)

The manager of a pancake stall finds himself confronted with an odd but sympathetic elderly woman looking for work. A taste of her homemade bean jelly convinces him to hire her, which starts a relationship that is about much more than just street food.

Sweet Bean is a warm film full of joy. Well, at least it begins that way. Even the sun has its spots, just like this lovely drama has its fair share of darkness. It's a wonderful testament to how tragedies can be defeated by our shared interests like food, like new relationships and like the perfect sweet bean paste. 

Genre: Drama

Belladonna of Sadness (Japan, 1973)

After being banished from her village, a peasant woman makes a pact with the devil to gain magical ability.

Belladonna has that genuine 70's vibe, and I can easily picture The Beatles suddenly starting to play during its lively watercolor imagery. There's lots of still images which are meant to speak for themselves, and they really do convey every bit of horrifying and erotic fantasies dwelling underneath the paint. It gets extremely surreal at times, and often it feels like you're on a jazz-infused acid-trip. 

It may be hard to fully grasp the story, but the amount of crazy things practically spewing out at the viewer makes it very re-watch friendly. Truly a visual treat. Not exactly for viewers without patience, but a stunning film if you allow yourself to be drawn into its fairytale-like world. 

Genre: Animation/Drama/Fantasy

Midori (Japan, 1992)

Midori, is a young, and vibrant girl who enjoys her school and classes, but after her mother became very ill, and their dad evaded contact with her, her mom dies from her ailments. Midori is then tricked by a circus producer to enter his funfair, where she is consistently raped and abused by the circus folk, but when she is on the edge of giving up hope, she is acquainted by a dwarf, and her whole world changes.

The whole story of how this film even got made could be its own stand-alone article. It got banned pretty much everywhere, even in Japan, due to the graphic violence and sexual abuse. The director, Hiroshi Harada, had to animate it all by himself because no one wanted to come near it. After its release, people did their best to destroy every copy of the film, which is why it's so obscure these days. Well, how bad could it be, you ask?   

The trailer says it all, really: "the ultimate antidote to mainstream anime". If you've grown tired of everything Japanese animation has to offer, this is your last stop. It has a staggering shock factor and could be seen as a more juvenile version of Freaks (1932). Had Midori been live-action, it would have been one of the most disturbing films ever made, but as an animated feature it reaches half-way and "only" leaves you deeply disturbed afterwords. Precisely the kind of film that would have been passed around as a rumoured bootleg back in the 90's. A stern warning must be issued though, due to the heavy themes of rape, abuse and animal violence taking place during its rather short runtime (56 min). Adult audiences only. 

Genre: Animation/Drama/Horror

Tokyo Idols (UK, 2017)

Girl bands and their pop music permeate every moment of Japanese life. Following an aspiring pop singer and her fans, Tokyo Idols explores a cultural phenomenon driven by an obsession with young female sexuality, and the growing disconnect between men and women in hyper-modern societies.

Here's a documentary that shows us the world behind the stage of a pop idol in contemporary Japan, and what happens when the curtain falls. It's a testament to how different Japan is to the rest of the world. Older men are lining up to watch young girls perform and basically want nothing else than to adore the hell out of them, get autographs and have their photo taken together with them. There's also a darker side to it, when men are talking about how they given up on other social relationships just to devote themselves to their idol-worshipping full-time. Very insightful interesting, Tokyo Idols is bound to spark a few culture shocks.

Genre: Documentary

The Red Turtle (Japan/France/Belgium, 2016)

A man is shipwrecked on a deserted island and encounters a red turtle, which changes his life.

The Red Turtle isn't entirely a Japanese production, but you'll thank me big time for giving it a pass. Directed and written by Dutch animator Michael Dudok de Wit, and with help from Japanese animation house Studio Ghibli, we are treated to some of the most gorgeous and heartfelt animation I've seen in a long time. Being completely free of dialogue, the film relies on stunning visuals and a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack to express its narrative. Watching it feels like taking part of another's life, another's amazing experiences and their sorrow and happiness.

It's one of those films that stays with you for a long time after having seen it.

Genre: Animation/Fantasy

The Long Excuse (Japan, 2016)

A recently widowed writer whose wife died in a bus crash comes to terms with his grief, or lack of it, in caring for the children of a working man who also lost his wife in the same accident.

The Long Excuse doesn't specifically do anything that's been done before, but it still manages to feel very gripping and bittersweet. Masahiro Motoki from the fantastic Departures (2008) plays the main role, and I got a serious urge to watch all his films because he feels like a very charismatic and engaging actor. 

The film starts off pretty basic and feels like your standard melodrama, but it gets more and more interesting and really delivers, and towards the end you've worked up a genuine care for the characters. A sort of quiet, sorrowful but yet carefully optimistic, well-acted drama.

Genre: Drama

I Am a Hero (Japan, 2015)

One day, after returning from work late in the evening, Hideo witnesses a traffic accident in which a car crashes into a nearby pedestrian, killing the victim instantly. However, despite severe injuries including a broken neck, the victim's body stands up and walks away. Hideo questions whether this is another one of his hallucinations, but strange events begin happening around him.

I Am a Hero delivers exactly what I want from this type of film: large amounts of gore (well-done gore!), a simple story but still enjoyable and interesting, and lastly a main character that's easy to root for. This is an immensely fun film for zombie lovers, and a great action flick for everyone who just wants a good time. I liked this a lot more than Train to Busan (2016), another zombie film from South Korea, which was dragged down by endless scenes of crying and sentimental reunions and whatnot. I Am a Hero skips all but is all the wiser for it. 

It's based on a popular manga but no prior knowledge is needed to enjoy the film, and me who hasn't read it wasn't yelling at everything they perhaps got wrong in the transition from page to movie. 

Genre: Action/Horror

A Tale of Samurai Cooking - A True Love Story (Japan, 2013)

Set within the Kaga Domain in the Edo Period. Oharu is an excellent cook and recognized for her skills. Due to her cooking talents, she marries Yasunobu, who is an heir in the Funaki family. The Funaki family serves as the cook for the Kaga Domain. Nevertheless, Yasunobu himself is a terrible cook. With the help of Oharu's mother-in-law Mitsuru, she begins to teach Yasunobu how to cook.

Here's a samurai film where the samurai are not wielding swords, but chopsticks. An easygoing and charming film about trying to cook the perfect meal. It goes without saying that there's not a lot of drama or action, but I still commend it for telling a story other than clans who are at war with each other. Consciously silly and borderline sappy, A Tale of Samurai Cooking is not for everyone but will please those looking for something that's not too serious.

Genre: Drama/History

The Handmaiden (South Korea, 2016)

1930s Korea, in the period of Japanese occupation, a new girl is hired as a handmaiden to a Japanese heiress who lives a secluded life on a large countryside estate with her domineering Uncle. But the maid has a secret. She is a pickpocket recruited by a swindler posing as a Japanese Count to help him seduce the Lady to elope with him, rob her of her fortune, and lock her up in a madhouse. The plan seems to proceed according to plan, until both girls discover some unexpected emotions.

I'm very late to the party with this one, and everyone has basically praised it enough, but one more recommendation can't hurt. Extremely well shot, full of memorable scenes (keep an eye out for the giant octopus), and a superb direction by the legend Park Chan-wook all makes it one of those films you just need to experience. You'll quickly notice how every scene is fine tuned to perfection and nothing was left to chance. It's based on (or loosely inspired by, if you ask the novels writer) an English novel called Fingersmith, which is set in London's Victorian era and you can really get the sense of that and not only because of the mandatory comedic scene involving a corset. Beautiful visuals and cinematography which is to expect when watching a film by Chan-wook, and even compared to his previous feats such as the deliciously edited Stoker (2013) and the fantastically written J.S.A. (2000), The Handmaiden ranks as one of his finest works.

My curious eye for art also picked up some interesting things, like when one of the characters is reading from an actual existing woodblock-printed book erotica, painted by the Japanese artist Hokusai. One of his most famous pieces include The Great Wave off Kanagawa, but the fact that he drew erotic art was news to me. In the film, his piece The Dream of the Fisherman's Wife is featured, and it's quite something. It has some sort of horrifying beauty to it and you get the feeling that it could be part of a much bigger mythos.  A fascinating flashback to old art.

Genre: Drama/Mystery/Romance