There are a ton of films to check out, but two that deal with suicide pacts or groups is Sono's <i>Suicide Club</i> and the pink film <i>Ambiguous</i> by Toshiya Ueno. <br><br>There is an hour long documentary that aired in the States on the now defunct Trio channel called <i>Suicide: Life in Japan</i>. However, it was not produced in the U.S. I think it might have been a BBC or British TV production, so I'm not sure if that was the original title. I could never find any online info about it. I managed to tape a rerun of it before Trio disappeared. It's pretty interesting. <br>
<br><div class="gmail_quote">On Thu, Feb 26, 2009 at 8:37 PM, Roger Macy <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:macyroger@yahoo.co.uk">macyroger@yahoo.co.uk</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
<div>
<div><font face="Arial">Dear Edel,</font></div>
<div><font face="Arial">If you haven't got to it already, I would look at Keiko
McDonald's book 'Japanese Classical Theater' in Films, 1994, which has chapters
on 'The Ballad of Narayama' and Shinoda's 'Double Suicide'. I'm sure
others could give sources for some more contemporary examples. But for
some reason, two counter-examples spring to mind, of women who won't, which
might help your argumentation: <i>Face</i> by SAKAMOTO Junji, 2000, in
Jasper's current touring programme; and IMAMURA S<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-US">hôhei's
<i>Intentions of Murder</i>, 1964.</span></font></div>
<div><font face="Arial"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-US">I
hope others can help you more,</span></font></div>
<div><font face="Arial"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-US">Roger</span></font></div><div><div></div><div class="Wj3C7c">
<div><font face="Arial"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-US"></span></font> </div>
<div><font face="Arial">----- Original Message ----- </font>
<div><font face="Arial">From: "Edel Quinn" <</font><a href="mailto:delquinn@gmail.com" target="_blank"><font face="Arial">delquinn@gmail.com</font></a><font face="Arial">></font></div>
<div><font face="Arial">To: "Kine Japan" <</font><a href="mailto:kinejapan@lists.acs.ohio-state.edu" target="_blank"><font face="Arial">kinejapan@lists.acs.ohio-state.edu</font></a><font face="Arial">></font></div>
<div><font face="Arial">Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2009 11:48 PM</font></div>
<div><font face="Arial">Subject: Representations of Suicide in Japanese
Cinema</font></div></div>
<div><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><font face="Arial">> Hi there,<br>>
<br>> My name is Edel. I'm a Masters student at the Huston Film School,
in <br>> National University of Ireland. I am in the early stages
of <br>> researching my thesis on Representations of Suicide in
Japanese <br>> Cinema. The extent to which suicide is mentioned and
depicted in <br>> Japanese arts has always interested me, especially
since, <br>> statistically speaking, Japan's title of being one of the
world's <br>> 'suicide nations' has only in recent years been
warranted. With this <br>> in mind I am looking at both
contemporary and classical films and <br>> emphasis will be placed on
how representations are made and whether or <br>> not there are links
between cultural depictions and sociological <br>> trends.This will
involve a discussion of traditional forms of <br>> committing suicide
such as seppaku. Also Shinjyuu, the form of suicide <br>> committed
among couples, to forms of familial suicides such as boshi- <br>> shinjyu
along with more contemporary trends amongst young people in <br>>
particular.<br>> <br>> I am also considering cross cultural analysis
comparing western <br>> representations of Japanese suicide with
Japanese depictions.<br>> <br>> However, I am having great difficulty
finding resources on my topic. <br>> Obviously the fact that I am
limited to English resources makes <br>> everything more difficult. I
would be most grateful if anyone has <br>> encountered
interesting texts, studies and films that deal with <br>> suicide in
film generally and particularly within the Japanese context.<br>> <br>> If
anyone has any thoughts, opinions or ideas on how I should go about
<br>> this study they would be most welcome! As I mentioned I'm in the
early <br>> stages of my research so I'm still figuring out what
direction to take.<br>> <br>> Thanks so much for your time.<br>>
<br>> Regards, Edel Quinn<br>> <br>> </font><a href="mailto:delquinn@gmail.com" target="_blank"><font face="Arial">delquinn@gmail.com</font></a><br><font face="Arial">> <br>> May I
commend Kine Japan organisers and contributors on continually <br>>
insightful discussions!<br>> <br>></font></div></div></div>
</blockquote></div><br>