Tokyo Drifter (Tokyo nagaremono)

Sunday, November 13 at 2 pm
Saturday, November 19 at 3:45 pm

1966, 82 min., 35mm, color. Directed by Seijun Suzuki. Written by Kohan Kawauchi. With Tetsuya Watari and Chieko Matsubara. Print courtesy of the Japan Foundation with permission from Nikkatsu.

A visionary experimental film that explodes the yakuza film genre. Director Seijun Suzuki, working with his production designer, Takeo Kimura, devised the kind of overtly colorful sets, costumes and dramatic lighting that ultimately led to his firing from the Nikkatsu Studio. The setting is Tokyo, 1966. The freeways, bullet train and Olympic Stadium are still brand new, reveling in the glory of 1960s Tokyo Modernism. Featuring a bloody gunfight between yakuza and the white-suited drifter Tetsu against an all-white minimalist background, this bracing film uses Modernism to explore the feudalistic loyalties of the yakuza world. 

Buy a Film Pass today!  Watch 5 films for the price of 4! $40; Japan Society members, seniors & students $24. (Good for both After War… and Hiroshi Sugimoto film series). The Film Pass is redeemable for 5 Fall 2005 films of your choice.  To guarantee your seat, present and exchange your Film Pass at the box office for tickets on the day of the film, at least 10 minutes before screening times.   This pass cannot be combined with any other discount offers at the Japan Society.