Tonî Takitani

Visually, this film ranks with those of classic Japanese directors to a degree one rarely encounters today.

Every shot is a gem that reinforces the tight sterile world the characters inhabit.

The film narrative is a comment on the materialist obsessions of Japanese life, as well as the exclusion of the Japanese aesthetic--deriving from both Japanese fascism and the influence of Western culture.

I would certainly like to see more of Jun Ichikawa's films made available on video.