GET UP! (Geroppa)

Friday, March 4
6:30 pm

2003, 112 min., 35mm, color. In Japanese with English subtitles. New York premiere. Directed by Kazuyuki Izutsu. Written by Daisuke Habara, Kazuyuki Izutsu. Cinematography by Hideo Yamamoto. Music supervised by Eitetsu Takamiya. With Toshiyuki Nishida, Takako Tokiwa, Taro Yamamoto, Ittoku Kishibe. Print courtesy of Cine Qua Non.

Two middle-aged yakuza, Daisuke and “Jimmy,” admire James Brown from the bottom of their hearts, impersonating his singing and collecting his memorabilia. Daisuke is depressed because he can’t go to a James Brown concert as he has to report to jail in a few days. He also wants to visit his daughter, whom he hasn’t seen for 25 years. To cheer Daisuke up, Jimmy orders his feckless young subordinates to “abduct James Brown!”

A brief introduction of the film will be given by Brian Camp, critic of film and popular culture. Mr. Camp writes extensively about Japanese popular culture and anime.  He is a regular contributor to Animerica Magazine and the Program Manager for CUNY-TV/City University Television in New York.

Tickets: $10; Japan Society members, seniors & students $5.