Synopsis

Based on a novel by multi-award-winning author Shuichi Yoshida (Villain, Parade), this bittersweet film is the latest offering from the director of The Woodsman & the Rain and stars Kengo Kora (Norwegian Wood, Fish Story) & Yuriko Yoshitaka (Gantz, Robo-G).

Yonosuke is a typical Japanese on-screen hero: socially awkward, childish and naive, but always cheerful and charming. We meet him when he moves from Nagasaki to Tokyo in the late eighties at the height of the city’s economic boom. Despite his odd character he manages to make new friends at university, joins a samba class and falls in love with an older woman. Sixteen years later his friends are all reminiscing over their college days, thinking back on how Yonosuke changed their lives. A heart-warming, crowd-pleasing comedy that takes a sudden dramatic turn. 

About the Director

Born in 1977, Shuichi Okita studied film at the Nihon University’s College of Art. His short film, “Pots and Friends” (2002), won the Grand Prize at the Mito Short Film Festival. His first feature, “The Wonderful World”, was released in 2006. After writing and directing for TV, he directed his second feature, “The Chef of the South Polar” (2009), which enjoyed a long theatrical run in Japan and earned him acclaim overseas. His most recent work, “The Woodsman and the Rain” (2011) – a lighthearted look at the team effort behind filmmaking – was awarded the Special Jury Prize at the 2011 Tokyo International Film Festival

CLR’s present release is a three tracks EP consisting of Terence Fixmer’s follow up of “Psychik” and two Monoloc remixes of his memorable song “Lovesick”. 

The originator’s brand-new composition “Psychik (Part 2)” is a smoothly driving, thoroughly absorbing and faultlessly produced Techno track with an uplifting vibe. Terence Fixmer’s approach to Techno has always transmitted a certain warmth and sincerity, and in both of his remixes, Monoloc pays respect to this rare talent of the French DJ/producer. The Frankfurt based CLR artist combines the haunting vocals of Cormac with a soft and elegantly rolling beat, creating a mesmerizing, otherworldly atmosphere. Monoloc’s gentle and skilful production style wonderfully underlines the depth of the original.

Pure Ground is a minimal industrial/wave duo formed in Los Angeles in the Spring of 2012. Making use exclusively of classic analog equipment, Pure Ground build a sonic template incorporating equal share of harmonious and discordant elements to drive their strain of rhythmic electronics. Present day dystopian realities and contemporary warfare influence the bands lyrical themes, with reference to 20th century science fiction and horror. The Daylight & Protection LP collects both of their cassette EPs in remixed and remastered form. They also recently released a limited VHS entitled Tenebrous Passages containing five works totalling near 20 minutes of collaged and manipulated video paired with exclusive audio tracks. Each VHS comes with a numbered print of a unique still taken from the videos in a limited edition of 60 copies.

In addition to these releases, Pure Ground will be making their way to Europe for the first time ever for just about a month. You can see the tour dates as well as an excerpt from Tenebrous Passages & Daylight & Protection below!

The EBM / industrial scene is proud to present the newest release by Atropine, a Norwegian duo consisting of ALX and Cthulberg who since 1994 explore, experiment and create sounds formally advanced through a wide range of modern hardware/software equipments and instrumentations from the 70's, 80's generations. The constructive integration of the two protagonists into the projects Epilektrician, Panzerveps and Pogrom Synod have considerably heightened their ability to formulate advanced functions by an electronics musicality tending to obscure, made of hissing/harsh vocalizations, minimal programmed symmetries, hypnotic midtempo/uptempo drum-machine sections, samplings and icy synths.

After the success of the previous album "Master Raze" published in 2001, here are the new Atropine ready to surprise us again, this time with the full-length entitled "Recurring Nightmares" that includes thirteen episodes which transmits restlessness, mystery and alienating atmospheres, subjugating inevitably the listener dragging him into a dark spiral of technological modulations. The new release is tactically founded by dry and robotic drumming combined with precise sequenced geometries, by aggressive vocals, by poisonous lyrics, alienating industrial resonances, effects and by minimal emissions of keyboard.

Arrow Video is delighted to announce the latest addition to its roster of Brian De Palma movies with the UK Blu-ray debut of Sisters, arguably the first true Brain De Palma suspense thriller. Following the recent release of The Fury and the truly one-of-a-kind Phantom of the Paradise, Sisters has been treated to an all-new restoration that hopes to bring an all-new interest in one of De Palma’s greatest early works.

Complementing this dual-format Blu-ray and DVD edition are a host of brand new extras including interviews with co-writer Louisa Rose, actress Jennifer Salt, editor Paul Hirsch and unit manager Jeffrey Hayes, a film-by-film guide to Brian De Palma's five-decade career by critic Mike Sutton, a visual essay by author Justin Humphreys and an all-new collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by author Kier-La Janisse, Brian De Palma’s original 1973 Village Voice essay on working with composer Bernard Herrmann as well as a contemporary interview with De Palma on making Sisters, and the 1966 Life magazine article that inspired the film, illustrated with original archive stills

Synopsis: 

Before 1973, Brian De Palma was impossible to pigeonhole: he made comedies, political satires and openly experimental pieces. But with Sisters (originally released as Blood Sisters in the UK) he turned to the suspense thriller and discovered his natural home – and a style that would lead directly to later masterpieces like Carrie, Dressed to Kill and Blow Out.

When Danielle (Margot Kidder) meets potential boyfriend Philip (Lisle Wilson) after appearing on the TV show Peeping Toms (a nod to the Michael Powell shocker), she invites him home, only to attract the ire of her twin sister Dominique. From across the courtyard, Rear Window-style, reporter Grace (Jennifer Salt) witnesses Philip being murdered by one of the twins – but the police find no body or any physical evidence. Naturally, Grace takes things into her own hands, and discovers more about the sisters’ relationship than she bargained for…

Strongly influenced by Alfred Hitchcock and Roman Polanski, and with a score by the great Bernard Herrmann (Citizen Kane, Psycho), Sisters was the first true “Brian De Palma” film.

Special Edition Contents

· High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD presentation

· Original Mono audio (uncompressed PCM on the Blu-ray)

· What the Devil Hath Joined Together: Brian De Palma’s Sisters – A visual essay by author Justin Humphreys (47 mins)

· All new interviews with co-writer Louisa Rose, actress Jennifer Salt, editor Paul Hirsch and unit manager Jeffrey Hayes

· The De Palma Digest – a film-by-film guide to the director’s career by critic Mike Sutton

· Archive audio interview with star William Finley (excerpt)

· Gallery of Sisters promotional material from around the world

· Theatrical trailer

· Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Graham Humphreys

· Illustrated collector's booklet featuring new writing on the film by author Kier-La Janisse (House of Psychotic Women), Brian De Palma’s original 1973 Village Voice essay on working with composer Bernard Herrmann as well as a contemporary interview with De Palma on making Sisters, and the 1966 Life magazine article that inspired the film.