Visitor Q

Itaru Era (2001, Jap)

Cast: Kenichi Endo, Fujiko, Jun Muto, Shoko Nakahara, Ikko Suzuki, Shungiku Uchida, Kazushi Watanabe

Plot:
A father, who is a failed former television reporter tries to mount a documentary about violence and sex among youths. He films his son being humiliated and hit by classmates, who in return beats his mom, who in is also a prostitute and a heroin addict... Meanwhile the father has sex with his daughter who is now also a prostitute. "Q", a perfect stranger somehow forces himself into this bizzare family, and manages to bring the family closer than it ever was.

Appreciation: 10/10
Ok. What the hell is up with the Japanese these days?? (and the asians in general) In the same week i've seen more disturbing content from that part of the globe alone than from all the western movies i've seen the last few years.
Fortunately for us though, this severely twisted humor is not only very refreshing, but it's also a deep source of questionning. It can be seen as a display of the decadence of Japanese modern society, home of trash tv and nameless other excesses.
This movie is so subversive that most people will just find it shocking and gross. But behind those excesses, the most disturbing in all this is the complicity established with the viewer. By enjoying and laughing at these various immoral and distasteful acts, you acknowledge the lack of gravity of those acts, effectively making you an accomplice by association. What's more, you eventually feel sympathy for those sick characters. The realism of the film sure helps in bringing out the voyeur in us. Because you will see other movies with sick stuff in them (just think gore movies for exemple), but none of them means to look any seriously believable or realistic. Just for keeping the right balance between sympathy and repulsion, laughs and unease, innocence and subversion, this film deserves to be praised. Simply, a touch of genius.
Needless to say, i adored the movie. In a theatre it's just perfect. The reactions of people in the room add to the whole experience. Let's hope Miike will continue to surprise us (Audition, from Miike also, was great as well).
One this for sure, this is a movie that will stay on your mind forever, and you'll never see breasts quite the same way!
Excuse me now, i have to go watch this movie again..

Other suggestions: Ebola Syndrome, Pink Flamingos, Audition