Don't know why some people are hesitating over these. I know many like to read reviews, see screen caps and so on before they buy something. I've written some brief words about these Artsmagic 'Shocking Pink' releases already, but Sato's contribution to 'Rampo Noir' and his old film issued in this series 'Hard Focus : Survey Map of a Paradise Lost' easily stand firm in my Top 10 experiences of the year - if that's any meaure by which to manage your own taste. Now here's another, different Director adding to the range.
Shame these have not been promoted at all it seems, no signs of reviews online at least, and although Artsmagic may want to concentrate on putting releases out, promotion is not something to be sacrificed in order to gain time to create releases that appear into thin air. There's lots of vision and hard work, wisdom, gone into these films and their DVD releases for America.
Most of the stuff on my shelves (well, in boxes now) as what are termed blind buys even though, in truth, I feed my instincts and react to them, and gradually over the years I am 100% confident in my picks for my own interest and purposes. In the last couple of years alone (yes, Twitch is Two Years Old this week) simply by sharing my interest with other I believe my taste has grown. At least, I am more aware of the growth now there's, in some ways, a record of it.
Anyway, here's the first spot of the artwork for Kazuhiro Sano's first entry in the series, 'Under the Carp Banner', 55-minutes long and surely of more interest than most generic choices you could be picking out. Synposis from TLA reads, "One of the four devils of the Japanese pink film industry, Kazuhiro Sano both directs and stars in this thrilling erotic adventure. An isolated spa resort weaves its spell as all who enter its doors give in to its magic. Under the fluttering carp banner, which flies above it, anything goes and the guests take full advantage in fulfilling their sexual desires."
Artmagic have done a great job in the presentation of these discs, and the number of special features (interviews, cast bios, trailers, etc.), as well as the reasonable cost, make these DVDs a valuable addition to the catalogue. Rampo Noir was certainly one of the great surprises of the year, and Hisayasu Sato's short 'Caterpillar' was the most memorable of the 4, IMO (though 'Crawling Bugs' is bound to be more of a crowd-pleaser). I have only just begun to watch artsmagic's 2004 release of 'Angel Guts', starting with the 2nd in the series, 'Red Classroom', and I can say I was astounded by the photography, the story, the transfer -- in short, everything. Unfortunately, I can't agree with logboy concerning 'Survey Map of a Paradise Lost', which highlights Sato's obsession with bondage and S&M;, although the scenery is glorious to behold :)
I think the thing with Hisayasu Sato's films is the more you see, the more you get an idea of what he is actually trying to say, so that even a film as potentially loathsome as LOLITA VIBRATOR TORTURE actually can be defended as a great work of art. I agree, SURVEY MAP is a bit hard to take in some places, but there is actually a lot of substance to it. Artmsmagic were contemplating releasing a couple of other titles instead, and if you think SURVEY MAP is strong, you wait till you see REWIND of FUGA MUSIC FOR ALPHA AND BETA - this might have been just too much for Western markets, but again, they have some really powerful ideas and imagery that crops up again and again in Sato's work - and i do think that along with Masao Adachi he is one of the most truly interesting directors the genre has ever spewed out.
BTW> Despite the "shot-on-video" look, SURVEY MAP was filmed on 35mm, because even to this day, pink theatres do not have video projection facilities. The budget would have been about half of the ANGEL GUTS films, and filmed on location, so this might account for its flat lighting. I still think it looks pretty damn good though!
I'm picking this one up, not a single doubt about it.
We have tried to promote the films in the same way that we promoted our previous releases. For whatever reasons...too much product, the controversial nature of the material, the fact that we're no longer new kids on the block...few reviewers showed any interest in covering the Sato/Sano titles. Thanks to those of you who have.
geery - thanks for coming by and posting that. i used to get emailed offers of review copies from artsmagic before phil left, i no longer do. todd doesnt seem to either, though i could be wrong and speaking out of turn on that one. also, the artsmagic website doesnt update and theres no trailers for these films appearing online. i agree the controversial nature may be holding you back, but if fans of japanese cinema are baulking at roman porno / pink films then theyre missing their role in the industry - its historically key and far too simplistic to dismiss as soft porn - and theire making prejudicial judgements against films, which is no good sign in my eyes. this series of films has made my year in terms of DVD viewing - great choices, lovely transfers (better than past efforts), unsual films, pushing the envelope and not just pandering to the fans who want to tread the same old ground. that said, the promotion you may have carried out might be too traditional - its worth remembering that this scene and the obscure DVD scene in general is absolutely interlinked with online coverage and promotion, the least artsmagic could have done is a splash-page with synopsis, specs, artwork, and all the other types of info you would publish on a leaflet and then stick a trailer in the middle : would have worked wonders - lots of hollywood films do this kind of page, some DVD release companies do, but although its simple and obvious as a technique its simply ignored... you must have seen pages like that, right? as it is, ive written about the films because ive followed them out of personal interest, and bought every one - and i hope to find many more making an appearance : these films are so much more than they can be easily taken as, and i am absolutely in despare that theyve suffered from a lack of understanding, thought and discussion.
-----