Scattered Clouds (Japan, 1967)

A husband and wife's love for each other and plans for the future are shattered when the man dies in a car accident. Misery is compounded when the man's parents disinherit his now widow and their former daughter-in-law. In the meanwhile, the chauffeur who accidentally killed a man is racked with guilt. In the melee, the driver and the widow begin to develop feelings for another.

Scattered Clouds (a.k.a. Two in the Shadow) explores the complex feelings following a tragedy and how we humans are not always driven by our minds but by our hearts even when it's not logical. I appreciated the very focused storyline and lack of unnecessary characters and side-plots, director Mikio Naruse (When a Woman Ascends the Stairs) knew exactly what he wanted to tell and he did it. Naruse is known for mostly making films centered around women, spotlighting their struggle and setbacks in a patriarchal society. Director Akira Kurosawa once described his films as "like a great river with a calm surface and a raging current in its depths."

Genre: Drama/Romance

Moonlight Serenade (Japan, 1997)

A journalist is reporting on the 1997 Kobe earthquake, as he remembers a trip made as a young boy. Then, he and family took a boat trip from Awaji to Beppu in order to bury the ashes of his elder brother, killed in the just-ended WWII. The lad spends much of the trip trying to talk his elder brother out of running away. They encounter an array of characters on the journey. Most prominent among them a black marketeer who, like the elder brother, feels that the "new ways" can only benefit him, and work against the boys' father, who is strict and traditional.

I've always had a soft spot for films that delves into feelings of nostalgia and old memories. It resonates with me more on a personal level and makes me reach back far in my own memory and remember things I'd thought was forgotten. Moonlight Serenade is about remembering ones childhood, both the hard times and the joyful moments too. 

Director Masahiro Shinoda was 15 years old when the war ended and one can imagine he drew a lot from experience when depicting a nation trying to recover from disaster, and also how American culture was seeping into Japan. Shinoda mainly focuses on portraying family and the different directions children take. 

Genre: Drama 

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

Bounce Ko Gals (Japan, 1997)

Lisa is 16. She is leaving for New York tomorrow at 11 a.m. She saved some money but she would like to get some more - just in case. As she tries to make money by shooting a video for girls-in-school-uniforms-demanding men she loses everything except her ticket. She meets two highschool girls, Raku and Jonko, professional call-girls, and spends the last night with them trying to make up the money that was stolen from her.

Admittedly, there's no shortage of films dealing with messy teenage life, but spending a night in Tokyo's more perverted societies is quite a trip. Bounce Ko Gals dishes out a healthy dose of social criticism, portraying an underworld where schoolgirls are the merchandise of the everyday Japanese "salaryman".  

Genre: Drama

Suzaku (Japan, 1997)

Depicts the life of a family in a remote Japanese timber village. Family head Tahara Kozo lives with his mother Sachiko, wife Yasuyo, nephew Eisuke and young daughter Michiru. Economic recession and failed development plans cause tragedy in the family.

Look, I'll admit that there's not a lot of stuff going on in Suzaku (a.k.a. Moe No Suzaku); there's barely a soundtrack to speak of, only the cicadas and leaves blowing in the wind, the dialogue is sparse and it's all so very peaceful and calm. If you've ever dreamt of traveling the Japanese countryside, this is how you'll get there a lot faster. The lush, thick forests and green mountains looks like they've all been taken straight out of a Studio Ghibli movie and the settings are beautifully picturesque. 

In the midst of all this we follow a family where everyone has their own personal struggle, ranging from teenage love problems to money issues. I was never bored while watching Suzaku, and if you kinda know what to expect you shouldn't be either. It's just a very soothing and relaxing slice of cinema.

Genre: Drama

Parasite Eve (Japan, 1997)

Toshiaki Nagashima is a biologist who is doing major research on mitochondria. When his beautiful young wife is tragically involved in a car accident which leaves her brain dead, in desperation he steals her liver from her body in order to receive the mitochondria from it to resurrect his wife from the dead. The killer mitochondria takes the form of his assistant who then uses the biologist for the host of a terrifying new species that is threatening to take over the world.

Parasite Eve has a plot that make it sound like an amazing alien invasion film, though, it's a lot more personal and intimate than that and with a lot of scientific setup. Based on a novel, which later was adapted into a video game series, Parasite Eve is like an alien movie with barely any aliens, but the story is good enough to satisfy and a film where spontaneous human combustion is a thing always gets my vote.

Genre: Drama/Horror/Romance

Made in Hong Kong (Hong Kong, 1997)

Autumn Moon, a low-rent triad living in Hong Kong, struggles to find meaning in his hopelessly violent existence.

Made in Hong Kong is a stylish crime drama that almost has the feel of a Wong Kar-wai (Chungking Express) film, and that's a fantastic achievement. It earned a ton of awards and prizes upon its release, and rightfully so, because it's a well-crafted and convincing story that takes a handful of turns.

Genre: Crime/Drama/Romance

Green Fish (South Korea, 1997)

Having just been discharged from the military, Mak-dong is on the train home when he finds himself in possession of a pink scarf. From the beginning, Mak-dong is entangled in a relationship that becomes his undoing. Home, Ilsan, is not the same for Mak-dong anymore. The fields and rice paddies have gone, replaced by high rise apartments, and the family has moved on while he has been away. All of his siblings except an invalid brother have left home, struggling to make a living. Mak-dong dreams of a time when the whole family can live together again.

Green Fish is a story about a man who makes the wrong decisions in life. It's a well acted drama with Han Suk-kyu (The Scarlett Letter, The Berlin File) in the lead role, and he plays his part really, really good. Check it out if you want a moody and great film.

Genre: Drama 

Happy Together (Hong Kong, 1997)

Yiu-Fai and Po-Wing arrive in Argentina from Hong Kong and take to the road for a holiday. Something is wrong and their relationship goes adrift. A disillusioned Yiu-Fai starts working at a tango bar to save up for his trip home. When a beaten and bruised Po-Wing reappears, Yiu-Fai is empathetic but is unable to enter a more intimate relationship. After all, Po-Wing is not ready to settle down. Yiu-Fai now works in a Chinese restaurant and meets the youthful Chang from Taiwan. Yiu-Fai's life takes on a new spin, while Po-Wing's life shatters continually in contrast.

Great film that centers around the themes of loneliness and jealousy. Happy Together I think did for LGBT-cinema what Brokeback Mountain (2005) got praised for doing almost ten years later, which was a rememberable, beautiful and troubled portrayal of a homosexual relationship without it feeling fake or artificial. Directed by one of my favorites, Wong Kar-wai (Fallen Angels), who uses a lot of stylish and innovative cinematography and makes every scene ten times more interesting. He's also a master of bringing out the very best in his performers, sometimes by basically do so many takes that the actors eventually transforms into their characters. Highly recommended.

Genre: Drama/Romance

The Eel (Japan, 1997)

White-collar worker Yamashita finds out that his wife has a lover visiting her when he's away, suddenly returns home and kills her. After eight years in prison, he returns to live in a small village, opens a barber shop and talks almost to no-one except for the eel he "befriended" in prison. One day he finds the unconscious body of Keiko, who attempted suicide and reminds him of his wife.

The Eel is a fantastic film with heavy themes. Loosely based on a novel called On Parole, which is a much more appropriate title, due to the fact it's about  trying to fit in to society after committing a heinous crime. It's more optimistic than you'd think, and along the way Yamashita meets a bunch of colorful characters,  Some big names are involved in the production, such as well-respected director Shohei Imamura (Black Rain, The Insect Woman) and lead actor Koji Yakusho who's got a stellar filmography. 

Genre: Drama

Hana-bi (Japan, 1997)

Nishi, a violent and unpredictable police detective who quits the force after a terrible incident results in his partner, Horibe, needing to use a wheelchair. After his retirement he spends much of his time looking after his wife Miyuki, who has leukemia. At the same time, the Yakuza is pressing him about debts he owes them. Luckily, Nishi is as tough as they come.

Moving at a deliberate slow pace, Hana-bi (a.k.a. Fireworks) takes its time to show a relationship between a man and his sick wife who's slowly withering away, with various engrossing subplots. The soundtrack, composed by Studio Ghibli's Joe Hisaishi, is hauntingly beautiful and gives the film an incredible emotional depth. There's some very violent scenes, but because they're sparse they become much more effective. Praised by critics all over the world, Hana-bi is an instant classic.

Genre: Crime/Drama/Romance

Cure (Japan, 1997)

A wave of gruesome murders is sweeping Tokyo. The only connection is a bloody X carved into the neck of each of the victims. In each case, the murderer is found near the victim and remembers nothing of the crime. Detective Takabe and psychologist Sakuma are called in to figure out the connection, but their investigation goes nowhere. An odd young man is arrested near the scene of the latest murder, who has a strange effect on everyone who comes into contact with him.

A great psychological thriller with the always fantastic Kôji Yakusho (Retribution). The brilliant camera work and subtle dark plot makes this a mysterious murder case you don't want to miss. Directed by one of my favorites, Kiyoshi Kurosawa, who've made films such as Tokyo Sonata (2008) and Pulse (2001), and is  without a doubt someone I consider is somewhat of a modern master.

Genre: Crime/Horror/Mystery

Perfect Blue (Japan, 1997)

Mima leaves the idol group CHAM, in order to pursue her dream as an actress. Mima climbs up the rocky road to success by performing as rape victims and posing nude for magazines, but is haunted by her reflections of the past.

Perfect Blue is a smart psychological thriller with a mind-bending and creepy plot that unfolds in a very Hitchcockian way. It shows human emotions extremely well despite being an animated film, and that's far from surprising because it was directed by the late Satoshi Kon, who also made other surreal films such as Paprika (2006) and Millennium Actress (2001). His trademark is the ability to blur the line between dream and reality. 

If you for some reason think that anime is for kids or particularly slow adults, this is the film that will prove you dead wrong. Should not be missed by anyone, thriller and anime-fans alike.

Genre: Animation/Crime/Drama. 1h 21min.