Hi Harri! Here's an end-of-the-year recomendation: Chikamatsu's Love in Osaka [浪花の恋の物語] - somewhere between Mizoguchi's Chikamatsu monogatari and Ichikawa's An Actor's Revenge... kind of a forgotten classic in my opinion.

by the way, I've started to plan a trip to Japan next year - finally

Yes, I think he's great. Definitely a "classic" director with a distinctive, lighter style. I feel like he didn't have the carrier he deserved, unfortunately. I'm in France now for the holidays, heading back to the island though...

Hey Harri! There's a small Japanese Film Festival taking place here next month. I know Petal Dance from your ratings (and an old avatar); can you suggest any others that might be essential?

Thanks for your detailed advice! I didn't know that the Iwai was a prequel, so I'll have to skip that one. Shame, his films (particularly Swallowtail Butterfly) have been recommended to me in the past. I'll be out of the country when the Hosoda screens too! I guess I'll just resolve even harder to see the Ishikawa & Ozu.

Apologies for the late response, but thanks! :)

Yeah it's.... not good. There's one inspired section, a four-minute long take with the actors actually physically swapping between slow-motion and normal speed in the midst of a crowded shootout but by the time the film gets to that point I was largely beyond caring. The finale involves a lot of awful CGI too :/

To is apparently retiring in five years, I'd like for him to go out on a high but I'm not too confident of that happening.

Hey! Actually, no, just been hanging around good old Reykjavik, mostly. Japan has been post-poned for the time being, but it still at the top of the list. Not been very active music or film-wise lately, sadly.