The New God DVD, Adachi, Underground Archive

[Gavin Rees]

Yes, the new God is a super film. 

I reviewed it was shown at Yamagata for an Australian Film Magazine. It was
a long review of lots of films, and so I did not have much space to write
about it. Hopefully what follows might pique somebody enough to invest in
the DVD:


The New God, by Tsuchiya Yutaka, is, however, a far more substantial
exploration of the state of youth in contemporary Japan, and a major
documentary. Tsuchiya heads an alliance of left wing video activists, and in
his last film "What Do You Think of The Emperor(IU(Js War Responsibility"  he
breached one of the most obdurate taboos in Japanese society by attacking
the Emperor system. In this film he befriends an ultra-nationalist punk rock
band which venerates the Emperor. The coupling is at first site as unlikely
as Pauline Hanson being invited to tea by a group of Aboriginal Elders. But
they come to realise that they have something in common: a yearning for
something solid to believe in, and a distaste for the apathy and materialism
of Modern Japan. The political tourism is breathtakingly manic. The female
lead singer of the group, and Tsuchiya both carry DV cameras, and they take
in everything from a reunion of former red-army terrorists in Korea to a
fund-raising meeting at the head-quarters of a neo-fascist direct action
group. (After they finished filming, the band received -  and accepted  - an
invitation to play in front of Saddam Hussein at a Barthist political
rally!) The cameras act both as diaries propelling the narrative and
confessionals tools. Talking to camera helps them to overcome the
inarticulacy which chokes them in larger groups. Be warned, though, The New
God is not just a political documentary; it is also a love story.


Gavin Rees