The Criterion Collection has been a strong supporter of Japanese director Seijun Suzuki, having released several of his films (including the cult favorites Tokyo Drifter and Branded to Kill) on DVD over the past few years, resulting in a newfound appreciation for Suzuki's work among Western film buffs. That tradition continues with Fighting Elegy (1966), which not only showcases Suzuki's dynamic visual style but also demonstrates the director's flair for off-kilter satire in a historical context. Set in Okayama during the 1930s, this coming-of-age comedy focuses on Kiroku (Hideki Takahashi), an impulsive high-schooler who can barely contain his sexual yearnings for Michiko (Junko Asano), a prim Catholic girl determined to reform him. Venting his sexual frustrations in sudden bursts of forceful violence, Kiroku becomes a strong candidate for recruitment in Japan's burgeoning fascist army. As a giddy examination of unbridled machismo and destructive male bluster, Fighting Elegy scores solid points for comedic social criticism. And while the actors mostly appear too old to be playing teenagers, it doesn't distract from Suzuki's energetic study of the hazards of youthful repression and alienation being transformed into regimented hostility. Presented with a solid black-and-white widescreen transfer, the DVD also includes a booklet with an essay by critic and film historian Tony Rayns, who explores the story's political background. [Note: Criterion has also newly released Suzuki's 1963 Youth of the Beast.] Recommended. (J. Shannon)
Fighting Elegy
Criterion, 86 min., in Japanese w/English subtitles, not rated, DVD: $29.95 Volume 20, Issue 3
Fighting Elegy
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