KANI-KOUSEN(WAS Re: Japan's stunning "A Normal Life, Please", to be screened at HSDFF in AR.)

[Anne McKnight]

Well, s/he assumed I referred to the film version of Kani kōsen,  
directed by Sabu, and released in 2009. The crypto-critique that  
followed was, I suspect, directed at the film.
Actually, I meant the original 1929 work of fiction by Kobayashi Takiji.

But his/her mis-interpretation--or my lack of clarity--does bring up  
an interesting question, with respect to the film and the lingering/ 
surging concerns about neo-liberalism in contemporary Japan (and  
elsewhere, I would imagine). I find it fascinating that Kobayashi's  
work has again become a point of reference. (Norma Field and Heather  
Bowen-Struyk have written essays in Japan Focus about the "Kani kōsen  
boom," for more background...there are some nice Amamiya Karin taidans  
out there, too, connecting to freeter issues)

What was the reception of the film, anyway? I had the impression  
(based on after-screening 'talk shows' and press at the time) that  
Sabu was not so interested in high fidelity to the original. But that  
he cared about hooking up a new audience to labor issues.

Were there conversations that followed out of the film, r did it  
pretty much sail off into the sunset?

On Sep 29, 2010, at 11:33 AM, Michael Kerpan wrote:

> Am I alone in finding this posting utterly mystifying?
>
> MEK
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: Asian Hooker <asianhooker at inter7.jp>
> To: KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu
> Sent: Wed, September 29, 2010 2:29:28 PM
> Subject: KANI-KOUSEN(WAS Re: Japan's stunning "A Normal Life,  
> Please", to be
> screened at HSDFF in AR.)
>
> A newbie here.
> No offense, but the new "KANI-KOUSEN" does not exactly illustrate  
> the original.
> IMHO. I mean, it's not a wise to a wise idea to flush your bucks  
> into toilet.
>
> The Hooker xoxo