Fighting Elegy (1966)

During the 1930s, a teenager yearns for a Catholic girl, whose only desire is to reform his sinful tendencies. Hormones raging, the young man channels his unsatisfied lust into the only outlet available: savage, crazed violence.

Director:

Seijun Suzuki

Writers:

Kaneto Shindô, Takashi Suzuki (novel)

Stars:

Hideki Takahashi, Junko Asano, Yûsuke Kawazu

Cast

Credited cast:
Hideki Takahashi	...	Kiroku Nanbu
Junko Asano	...	Michiko
Yûsuke Kawazu	...	Suppon 'Turtle'
Chikako Miyagi	...	Yoshino Nanbu
Takeshi Katô
Isao Tamagawa	...	Principal
Jun Hamamura
Asao Sano
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kensuke Akashi
Iwae Arai
Hiroyuki Atami	...	(as Kôtô Atami)
Hiroshi Chiyoda
Hiroshi Chô
Hideo Fukuhara
Yûzô Harumi

Storyline

In Okayama in the mid-1930s, Kiroku attends high school and boards with a Catholic family whose daughter, Michiko, captures his heart. He must, however, hide his ardor and other aspects of his emerging sexuality, focusing his energy on a gang he joins, breaking school rules, and getting into scuffles (he tells her, "Oh, Michiko, I don't masturbate, I fight"). He comes under the influence of a young tough nicknamed Terrapin, and together they lead fights against rival gangs. Gradually, Kiroku and Terrapin align themselves with the right-wing Kita Ikki, and Kiroku becomes a stand-in for the attitudes of Japanese youth who embraced the imperialism leading to World War II.

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Plot Keywords:

comic violence | adult humor | political satire | satire | masturbation | 

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Genres:

Action | Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

9 November 1966 (Japan)

Also Known As:

Fighting Elegy

Filming Locations:

Okayama, Japan

Company Credits

Production Co:

Nikkatsu

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film is part of the Criterion Collection, spine #269.

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Connections

Referenced in Yakuza Apocalypse (2015)

User Reviews

After a second viewing...

The first time around, I was a little lost on this one. I didn't have the proper knowledge of its historical context. The Criterion liner notes are a big help. I just wish I had read them more recently. This is a satire of the militaristic attitude that eventually lead Japan into WWII. I remembered it being a comedy. It does have its comic moments, mostly involving Kiroku's uncontrollable erections, but it is rather serious in tone. Well, that's even a little weird. Suzuki is able to create a remarkable balance between the film's serious themes, its action sequences, as well as its comic touches. All the while, he creates a film of outstanding imagery, gorgeous cinematography, and artful editing. To think, Suzuki Seijun had probably no ability to choose which films he made. He was a bit lucky to land this one, though, as it was written by Kaneto Shindo, who had to be hot stuff after having already directed both The Island and Onibaba (though I wouldn't know how those films were received in Japan). This is one of only two Suzuki films that stand outside of the yakuza genre, so here (and in Story of a Prostitute) he was able to deal with deeper themes than normal. But anyway, Suzuki had little control over what material he was to direct, one way or another. I find his ability to create great art infinitely more impressive than any number of cinematic artists who had more or less complete control over their own work. It would be utterly wrong not to include Suzuki in the pantheon of the world's greatest film artists.