Abnormal Family

CLASSICS: Rediscoveries & Restorations

North American Premiere

Before going on to win Japan Academy Prizes for Sumo Do, Sumo Don’t (1992) and his international hit comedy Shall We Dance? (1996), director Masayuki Suo began his filmmaking career in the softcore pink film genre with this playful, erotic homage and parody of Yasujiro Ozu’s family dramas. Utilizing a Tokyo Story-like premise about a buxom daughter-in-law’s relationship with her husband’s nuclear family and a father’s feeling of isolation from his children, Abnormal Family is full of nods to Ozu’s cinematic universe that will delight (or deeply offend) fans of the Japanese cinema master—including tatami-level medium close-ups, stilted dialogue, and an uncanny Chishu Ryu impression by Ren Osugi—while also fulfilling the requisite number of sex scenes. New 4K restoration by Rapid Eye Lab.

1984. 63 min. DCP, in Japanese with English subtitles. Directed by Masayuki Suo. With Kaoru Kaze, Miki Yamaji, Usagi Aso, Ren Osugi.

"One of the wittiest [films] in the genre"

— Jasper Sharp, Behind the Pink Curtain: The Complete History of Japanese Sex Cinema

18+ This film is unrated, but is not recommended for persons younger than 18 years of age due to strong sexual content.