B&W, 1988, 87m. / Directed by Shinya Tsukamoto / Starring Shinya Tsukamoto, Kirina Mano, Tatsuya Nakamura, Takahiro Murase / Artsmagics (US R1 NTSC), Studio Canal (France R2 PAL) / WS (1.85:1) (16:9) / DD5.1


A Japanese cyberpunk-era response to films like Gun Crazy and My New Gun, this stark social drama from director Tsukamoto of Tetsuo and Gemini fame offers another virtuoso display of his talents, albeit with a more traditional narrative approach. His love for gritty, monochromatic photography is here utilized to craft a noir-influenced study of gang life and firearm obsession in modern Japan, where laws outlawing handguns propel one man, commercial director Goda (played by Tsukamoto as well), in a feverish quest to obtain one at any cost. The impetus for his quest is the suicide of his girlfriend via gunshot to the temple, and soon he's scouring the streets where he runs afoul of a gang of street thugs whose leading female member, Chisato (Mano), awakens new and possible dangerous emotions as they fall into a most unusual romance - sprinkled with the occasional gunfight and gory beating.

The follow up film to Tsukamoto's first color films, the urban nightmare Tokyo Fist and Tetsuo II, this study of pistol madness feels like an attempt to reconcile those prior entries with Tsukamoto's more aggressive underground origins; fortunately he succeeds for the most part, particularly during the delirious final act which takes a few interesting twists and turns. The result is one of his more accessible films (certainly more than his later A Snake of June) and, though still for selective tastes, an experience that rewards repeated viewings.

Extremely difficult to find for American viewers prior to DVD, Bullet Ballet looks about as good as NTSC will allow in this DVD incarnation. Similar to earlier anamorphic editions in other countries, the transfer is sharp and appropriately grainy and murky where needed. Artsmagic's 5.1 audio mix sounds similar to the previous surround mixes; surround activity is fairly frequent, but don't expect too many fancy split-signal effects.

With typically loving attention to detail, Artsmagic presents the most comprehensive edition of this film to date. Regular Japanese cinema commentator Tom Mes turns in another solid audio commentary in which he sketches in the histories of the major participants and explores the role of firearms in Japanese culture, while Tsukamoto turns up for a new, engaging video interview in which he discusses the challenges of playing leading man in his own film and his creative intentions for the project. You also get two trailers, bios and filmographies, and promos for other Artsmagic titles.


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