Actually your frame of investigation is huge, and I guess there'll be tons of films that will fit your demand. <i>Seppuku</i> or <i>Yukoku</i> are not to be missed, I assume. Misumi Kenji has some seppuku "depiction" as well, in films like <i>Ken</i> with Ichikawa Raizō, if I am no mistaking (and I may be). (Sorry for using japanese titles, I don't know the english ones)<br>
Regarding shinju or double-suicide, I would like to point some examples that may interest you. Aside many examples of Chikamatsu's plays turned into movies, you should refer to Oshima's <i>Muri shinju Nihon no natsu</i>, for it questions (more or less directley) the links between death/suicide and eroticism at the core of shinju. One may not forget that at the time Marquis de Sade was translated by Shibuzawa Tatsuhiko ; Georges Bataille must have been of prime interest as well to many japanese cinematographers - and to Mishima, needless to say. In that perspective, Masumura's <i>Mojū</i>, among others, shall provide a funny picture... If we consider Oshima, <i>Hakuchu no torima</i> may also be interesting, for its comparison or competition between the serial-rapist/killer and the mayor's son, i. e. killing vs shinju... <br>
I think Yoshida should be considered as well, especially for <i>Kokuhakuteki joyuron</i>, in which one of the three characters is a "shinju maniac', some kind of female Dazai Osamu. <i>Mizu de kakareta monogatari </i>links shinju to incest in a challenging way. <i>From that point of view, Akitsu onsen</i> is much more classical in a way, but should be interesting for your topic. Last but not least, <i>Chi ha kawaiteru</i> : the main character tries to commit suicide and then become a popular hero... Yoshida claims that this film focuses on suicide as the expression of "higaisha ishiki" that most cinematographers criticized back to 1955/1965, etc. His interviews will ba as interesting as the movie itself...<br>
If you can read french, you should take a look to two publications : Maurice Pinguet, <i>La Mort volontaire au Japon</i>, and Alain Walter, <i>L'Erotique du Japon classique</i>. They're not free from what one may call some kind of "japonism", but they will provide some interesting hints.<br>
<br>Mathieu Capel<br>Paris<br><br><br><br><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">2009/2/27 <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:eigagogo@free.fr">eigagogo@free.fr</a>></span><br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
Tabayashi's Nishijin Shinju could be an interesting movie to study too, as it<br>
seems to be a kind of modern approach on the subject. Although it may seem<br>
off-topic, 'tragic heroes' from ninkyo-eiga are interesting figures in the way<br>
they deal about ninjo-giri.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Selon Edel Quinn <<a href="mailto:delquinn@gmail.com">delquinn@gmail.com</a>>:<br>
<div><div></div><div class="Wj3C7c"><br>
> 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>
> <a href="mailto:delquinn@gmail.com">delquinn@gmail.com</a><br>
><br>
> May I commend Kine Japan organisers and contributors on continually<br>
> insightful discussions!<br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
<br>
<br>
</div></div></blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>Mathieu Capel<br>67 rue de la Roquette <br>75011 Paris<br>06 50 32 45 00 / 01 43 79 19 19<br><a href="mailto:mathieucapel@gmail.com">mathieucapel@gmail.com</a><br>