Winner for Best Director at the Tokyo Film Festival, Best Debut Feature in Udine, Jury Award in Camera Japan and of Audience Award in Japan Cuts, Nippon Connection and Asian Pop-Up Cinema, Seiji Tanaka’s feature debut Melancholic is one of the smartest Japanese films we have seen during the latest years, particularly in the way it mocks a number of genre conventions and general concepts, while remaining entertainingly genre itself.
“Melancholic ” is streaming on Sakka Films
Despite having graduated from the prestigious Tokyo University, Kazuhiko is unemployed and living with his parents without any plans for the future, in a lifestyle that could be easily described as that of a hikikomori. As the story begins, however, two events change his life completely, in rather unexpected ways. One day, he stumbles upon a former classmate, Yuri Sojima, who, opposite of him, is socially adept, cheerful, and even more surprisingly, seems to like him.
“Melancholic ” is streaming on Sakka Films
Despite having graduated from the prestigious Tokyo University, Kazuhiko is unemployed and living with his parents without any plans for the future, in a lifestyle that could be easily described as that of a hikikomori. As the story begins, however, two events change his life completely, in rather unexpected ways. One day, he stumbles upon a former classmate, Yuri Sojima, who, opposite of him, is socially adept, cheerful, and even more surprisingly, seems to like him.
- 7/3/2022
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Given its international success and recent Oscar triumph of Ryusuke Hamguchi’s “Drive My Car”, Japanese cinema seems to be not only highly regarded, but also a powerhouse of creativity and artistry. Even before that, Shinichiro Ueda raised quite a few eyebrows with critics and genrefans with his underground hit “One Cut of the Dead”, which also created quite a lot of pressure on the filmmaker and the follow-up to this blend of comedy and zombie-horror. While “Special Actors” could not quite live up to the hype, it nevertheless manifested the reputation of its director as mixing genre elements and a quirky sense of humor with personal drama and observations on Japanese pop culture. In many ways, his new feature “Popran” continues this approach, given its comedy elements also pave the way for a drama about a man who finds back to his roots, and thus back to his beloved manhood.
- 5/31/2022
- by Rouven Linnarz
- AsianMoviePulse
Los Angeles-based Synepic Entertainment has announced that their anticipated platform for Japanese independent cinema Sakka is launching on May 25th, 2022. Their launch will feature five award-winning independent films that have charmed the crowd at the festival circuit.
As indicated by its name Sakka, a Japanese word for “auteur”, the platform will focus on featuring and supporting the emerging directors from Japan with unique voices. It will have a featured page for the directors of their distribution titles and allow people to send short reviews directly to the filmmaker as part of its effort to bring the community closer. The audience can enjoy special bonus contents that are available with rentals and purchases. The company is also looking to host in-person screenings as the venues start to come back to normalcy.
The platform will not only stream the films that the company is distributing, but it will also allow people to...
As indicated by its name Sakka, a Japanese word for “auteur”, the platform will focus on featuring and supporting the emerging directors from Japan with unique voices. It will have a featured page for the directors of their distribution titles and allow people to send short reviews directly to the filmmaker as part of its effort to bring the community closer. The audience can enjoy special bonus contents that are available with rentals and purchases. The company is also looking to host in-person screenings as the venues start to come back to normalcy.
The platform will not only stream the films that the company is distributing, but it will also allow people to...
- 5/18/2022
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
Exclusive: Los Angeles-based Synepic Entertainment is launching Sakka, a streaming service specializing in Japanese cinema. The platform will debut in North America and select further territories in early May, the company said. At launch, it will feature five movies: Happy Hour, the 2015 movie from recent Oscar nominee Ryusuke Hamaguchi; Shô Miyake’s 2018 feature And Your Bird Can Sing; Seiji Tanaka’s 2018 film Melancholic; Chihiro Amano’s 2019 pic Mrs Noisy; and Hajime Tsuda’s 2020 drama Daughters. Synepic said it was focusing on independent films and would be acquiring two further titles later in the summer. The company is also looking to host in-person screenings of films it acquires. “We are beyond proud to create this unique platform for Japanese films of new generations,” commented Chiaki Yanagimoto, the president of Synepic Entertainment and the founder of the platform. “There are many Japanese films that unfortunately don’t see their full potential outside...
- 4/12/2022
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
To mark the release of Melancholic on 7th September, we’ve been given 3 copies to give away on Blu-ray.
Despite having graduated from the prestigious Tokyo University, Kazuhiko is unemployed and living with his parents without any plans for the future. Everything changes, however, when he takes up a job at a local bathhouse and discovers that it is used by the yakuza as a convenient place for executions and corpse disposal. Winner of the Best Director Award at the 2018 Tokyo International Film Festival: Japanese Cinema Splash, this auspicious debut from writer/director Seiji Tanaka features an ingenious script full of unexpected shifts in genre and tone, effortlessly swinging between black comedy, coming-of-age romance and crime thriller.
Please note: This competition is open to UK residents only
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The Small Print
Open to UK residents only The competition will close 14th September 2020 at 23.59 GMT The winner will be...
Despite having graduated from the prestigious Tokyo University, Kazuhiko is unemployed and living with his parents without any plans for the future. Everything changes, however, when he takes up a job at a local bathhouse and discovers that it is used by the yakuza as a convenient place for executions and corpse disposal. Winner of the Best Director Award at the 2018 Tokyo International Film Festival: Japanese Cinema Splash, this auspicious debut from writer/director Seiji Tanaka features an ingenious script full of unexpected shifts in genre and tone, effortlessly swinging between black comedy, coming-of-age romance and crime thriller.
Please note: This competition is open to UK residents only
a Rafflecopter giveaway
The Small Print
Open to UK residents only The competition will close 14th September 2020 at 23.59 GMT The winner will be...
- 9/4/2020
- by Competitions
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
UK-based distributors Third Window Films and Arrow Video will release hard-copy Japanese cult classics come September. Among the titles include Macoto Tezka’s musical “The Legend of the Stardust Brothers” (1985), Seiji Tanaka’s low-budget, high concept feature “Melancholic” (2018), and Katsuhito Ishii’s Cannes opening film “The Taste of Tea” (2004). Read below for exact release dates.
Black Test Car / The Black Report: 24 August; blu-ray only
Japanese maverick director Yasuzo Masumura (Blind Beast) helms a bitingly satirical espionage thriller set in the heart of the Japanese auto industry in his 1962 landmark Black Test Car, which launched a series of similarly themed “Black” films.
Making its worldwide Blu-ray debut, Black Test Car is paired here with the English-language video premiere of its follow-up The Black Report, also directed by Masumura.
Melancholic: 7 September; blu-ray only
From Third Window Films: Despite having graduated from the prestigious Tokyo University, Kazuhiko is unemployed and living with his...
Black Test Car / The Black Report: 24 August; blu-ray only
Japanese maverick director Yasuzo Masumura (Blind Beast) helms a bitingly satirical espionage thriller set in the heart of the Japanese auto industry in his 1962 landmark Black Test Car, which launched a series of similarly themed “Black” films.
Making its worldwide Blu-ray debut, Black Test Car is paired here with the English-language video premiere of its follow-up The Black Report, also directed by Masumura.
Melancholic: 7 September; blu-ray only
From Third Window Films: Despite having graduated from the prestigious Tokyo University, Kazuhiko is unemployed and living with his...
- 8/23/2020
- by Grace Han
- AsianMoviePulse
Winner of the Best Director Award at the 2018 Tokyo International Film Festival: Japanese Cinema Splash, the Best Debut Feature from Udine Far East Film Festival, the Audience Award from Nippon Connection and Asian Pop-Up Cinema, and the Jury Award at Camera Japan, “Melancholia,” the auspicious debut from writer/director Seiji Tanaka, features an ingenious script full of unexpected shifts in genre and tone, effortlessly swinging between black comedy, coming-of-age romance and crime thriller.
The blu-ray of the film will be available on Third Window Films on September 7, 2020. Extra features include Behind the Scenes, a Q&a with the director and cast, the short film version of “Melancholic.” “Melancholic” will also be available on various video and on-demand platforms.
Summary:
Despite having graduated from the prestigious Tokyo University, Kazuhiko is unemployed and living with his parents without any plans for the future. Everything changes, however, when he takes up a job...
The blu-ray of the film will be available on Third Window Films on September 7, 2020. Extra features include Behind the Scenes, a Q&a with the director and cast, the short film version of “Melancholic.” “Melancholic” will also be available on various video and on-demand platforms.
Summary:
Despite having graduated from the prestigious Tokyo University, Kazuhiko is unemployed and living with his parents without any plans for the future. Everything changes, however, when he takes up a job...
- 7/19/2020
- by Grace Han
- AsianMoviePulse
Chicago – The Asian Pop-Up Cinema (Apuc) of Chicago is highlighting their past program line up of award-winning and culturally important films with “Audience Choice Winners Rewind” – an event that allows streaming the films on specific dates throughout the next several weeks. All it takes to access the films for Free is to register at the Apuc website on the day the film is scheduled to stream.
Films from Japan are in the spotlight coming up. Friday, May 22nd is “Melancholic” (click here for details) which involves two old high school chums, Kazuhiko and Yuri, who run into each other at a Japanese bathhouse. Kazuhiko starts working there, and finds out secrets that change everything. Sunday, May 24th is “Round Trip Heart” (click here) and it’s Hachiko’s story … she excels at her menial job as a snacks server onboard a Japanese “Romancecar” train service, and that safe world gets...
Films from Japan are in the spotlight coming up. Friday, May 22nd is “Melancholic” (click here for details) which involves two old high school chums, Kazuhiko and Yuri, who run into each other at a Japanese bathhouse. Kazuhiko starts working there, and finds out secrets that change everything. Sunday, May 24th is “Round Trip Heart” (click here) and it’s Hachiko’s story … she excels at her menial job as a snacks server onboard a Japanese “Romancecar” train service, and that safe world gets...
- 5/23/2020
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Third Window Films has announced it’s upcoming slate of new releases. Including a double bill of the work of Ujichi in “Burning Buddha Man” and “Violence Voyager”, Nouhiko Obayshi’s “Hangatami”, and the cult hit “Melancholic” from Seiji Tanaka.
Violence Voyager/ Burning Buddha Man
A double bill of the work of Japanese director Ujicha, whose unique and over the top style and narrative has garnered a cult fan base. Our own Don Anelli had this to say about Violence Voyager. “Ujicha’s story, about the boys trapped in the nightmarish world of the cursed amusement park, creates an incredibly surreal backdrop for the madness within here. Employing child kidnapping, a mad scientist, robotics and grotesque body-horror, these seemingly disparate ideas are wrapped together into an engaging and wholly unique storyline.”
The two films will be presented in a special edition bluray set out in Jun/July. Check out the...
Violence Voyager/ Burning Buddha Man
A double bill of the work of Japanese director Ujicha, whose unique and over the top style and narrative has garnered a cult fan base. Our own Don Anelli had this to say about Violence Voyager. “Ujicha’s story, about the boys trapped in the nightmarish world of the cursed amusement park, creates an incredibly surreal backdrop for the madness within here. Employing child kidnapping, a mad scientist, robotics and grotesque body-horror, these seemingly disparate ideas are wrapped together into an engaging and wholly unique storyline.”
The two films will be presented in a special edition bluray set out in Jun/July. Check out the...
- 2/25/2020
- by Adam Symchuk
- AsianMoviePulse
The third edition of the Japannual Film Festival takes place from 1st to 6th of October in Vienna. This year, the festival celebrates the 150th anniversary of Austrian-Japanese diplomatic relations with an excellent selection of films, showing the highlights of the bygone year. Besides the modern cinema, Japannual features two movies of the infamous director Koji Wakamatsu accompanied by the short films of video artist Yuri Muraoka.
The opening film “Blue Hour” (2019), a multi-layered comedy about a sudden family visit, is the first feature by female director Yuko Hakota and was already celebrated at the Nippon Connection Festival for its portrayal of strong female characters.
Strong female characters can also be seen in Kosai Sekine’s “Love at Least” (2018) and Momoko Fukuda’s “My Father, My Bride” (2019). Both directors will be present at the festival and so it the actress Shuri, who gives an intriguing performance of a mentally ill...
The opening film “Blue Hour” (2019), a multi-layered comedy about a sudden family visit, is the first feature by female director Yuko Hakota and was already celebrated at the Nippon Connection Festival for its portrayal of strong female characters.
Strong female characters can also be seen in Kosai Sekine’s “Love at Least” (2018) and Momoko Fukuda’s “My Father, My Bride” (2019). Both directors will be present at the festival and so it the actress Shuri, who gives an intriguing performance of a mentally ill...
- 9/28/2019
- by Alexander Knoth
- AsianMoviePulse
Chicago – Season Nine of Chicago’s Asian Pop-Up Cinema (Apuc) celebrates Japan this week, and brought in the writer/director Seiji Tanaka and lead actor Yoji Minagawa to represent their film “Melancholic.” This crime drama combines a man’s inability to enjoy life with hired assassins at a bathhouse.
Kazuhiko (Yoji Minagawa) is in a funk with his life, despite earning his degree from a top university. His melancholia prevents him from breaking out of his parent’s upper middle class existence and his ability to move his life forward. After a chance encounter with a high school friend during a visit to a bathhouse, he notices a employment opportunity and begins to work there. He eventually discovers that this bathhouse is being used for nefarious after-hours activities, which is bad enough, but then Kazuhiko finds that his co-worker is an assassin.
‘Melancholic,’ Directed by Seiji Tanaka and Featuring Yoji Minagawa (right)
Photo credit: AsianPopUpCinema.
Kazuhiko (Yoji Minagawa) is in a funk with his life, despite earning his degree from a top university. His melancholia prevents him from breaking out of his parent’s upper middle class existence and his ability to move his life forward. After a chance encounter with a high school friend during a visit to a bathhouse, he notices a employment opportunity and begins to work there. He eventually discovers that this bathhouse is being used for nefarious after-hours activities, which is bad enough, but then Kazuhiko finds that his co-worker is an assassin.
‘Melancholic,’ Directed by Seiji Tanaka and Featuring Yoji Minagawa (right)
Photo credit: AsianPopUpCinema.
- 9/26/2019
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Born in Itoshima, Fukuoka Prefecture in 1987, Seiji Tanaka dropped out of Nihon University College of Art to go to California and joined for two years a community college with the aim of becoming a scriptwriter. Once back to Japan, he began writing scripts for stage plays and making short films. His day job was video production for an It company. In 2016 his friend, Yoji Minagawa, approached Tanaka with he idea of making a film together, with Minagawa serving as producer. Together with another actor friend, Yoshitomo Isozaki , they formed the production company One Goose. “Melancholic” is Tanaka’s first feature and had its world premiere at the 2018 Tokyo International Film Festival in the Japanese Cinema Splash section where Tanaka won the section’s Best Director prize.
Yoji Minagawa was born in 1987 too. He is a stage actor who befriended Seiji Tanaka while working with him. It was him who had...
Yoji Minagawa was born in 1987 too. He is a stage actor who befriended Seiji Tanaka while working with him. It was him who had...
- 5/1/2019
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
What starts off as a coming-of-age film, morphs towards an ode to V-Cinema and Hong Kong action films, and finally, emerges as a touching human drama. In his debut feature, “Melancholic”, director Seiji Tanaka and actor/producer Yoji Minagawa create a menagerie of overused but fun Yakuza movie plotlines, scenes of familial domesticity, dating life, friendship, young vs old, and notions on college education. It’s the lens in which the story is framed, the eyes through which we see through, and how elements of other genres are woven together that make it such a unique and fantastical debut. “Melancholic” succeeds In that genre blending, in a way that many films have not been able to master. Director Tanaka is able to respect and innovate upon the Japanese action cinema of the late 80’s and 90’s, through the eyes and constant disbelief of a 20-something college graduate.
“Melancholic” is screening...
“Melancholic” is screening...
- 4/27/2019
- by Andrew Chavez
- AsianMoviePulse
What starts off as a coming-of-age film, morphs towards an ode to V-Cinema and Hong Kong action films, and finally, emerges as a touching human drama. In his debut feature, “Melancholic”, director Seiji Tanaka and actor/producer Yoji Minagawa create a menagerie of overused but fun Yakuza movie plotlines, scenes of familial domesticity, dating life, friendship, young vs old, and notions on college education. It’s the lens in which the story is framed, the eyes through which we see through, and how elements of other genres are woven together that make it such a unique and fantastical debut. “Melancholic” succeeds In that genre blending, in a way that many films have not been able to master. Director Tanaka is able to respect and innovate upon the Japanese action cinema of the late 80’s and 90’s, through the eyes and constant disbelief of a 20-something college graduate.
Casting actor Yoji...
Casting actor Yoji...
- 11/14/2018
- by Andrew Chavez
- AsianMoviePulse
Festival’s 31st edition built bridges to China and Southeast Asia.
French director Mikhael Hers’ Amanda was awarded the Tokyo Grand Prix at the close of this year’s Tokyo International Film Festival (Tiff), while A First Farewell from China’s Lina Wang won best film in the Asian Future competition.
Amanda, about a young man who looks after his niece following his sister’s sudden death, also took the Wowow-sponsored best screenplay award. Danish drama Before The Frost took the Special Jury Prize and best actor for Jesper Christensen. Best director went to Italian filmmaker Edoardo De Angelis for The Vice Of Hope,...
French director Mikhael Hers’ Amanda was awarded the Tokyo Grand Prix at the close of this year’s Tokyo International Film Festival (Tiff), while A First Farewell from China’s Lina Wang won best film in the Asian Future competition.
Amanda, about a young man who looks after his niece following his sister’s sudden death, also took the Wowow-sponsored best screenplay award. Danish drama Before The Frost took the Special Jury Prize and best actor for Jesper Christensen. Best director went to Italian filmmaker Edoardo De Angelis for The Vice Of Hope,...
- 11/2/2018
- ScreenDaily
The Mikhael Hers-directed drama “Amanda,” about a man who ends up caring for his seven-year-old niece when her mother is killed, was awarded the Tokyo Grand Prix at the Tokyo International Film Festival’s closing ceremony today. The film also took the best screenplay award in the festival 31st edition, which runs Oct. 25 to Nov. 3.
“Amanda” premiered in competition at this year’s Venice Film Festival. But it left without a prize. It will release in Japan next year, through distributor Bitters End, the director said in a video message.
The second-place special jury prize went to Michael Noer’s “Before the Frost.” Unfolding in the 19th Century Danish countryside, the film previously screened in the contemporary world cinema section at Toronto.
Italy’s Edoardo De Angelis was named best director for “The Vice of Hope,” a drama set in the Naples sex industry. The best actress honors went to Pina Turco,...
“Amanda” premiered in competition at this year’s Venice Film Festival. But it left without a prize. It will release in Japan next year, through distributor Bitters End, the director said in a video message.
The second-place special jury prize went to Michael Noer’s “Before the Frost.” Unfolding in the 19th Century Danish countryside, the film previously screened in the contemporary world cinema section at Toronto.
Italy’s Edoardo De Angelis was named best director for “The Vice of Hope,” a drama set in the Naples sex industry. The best actress honors went to Pina Turco,...
- 11/2/2018
- by Mark Schilling
- Variety Film + TV
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