Blog - Un homme ne peut endurer ça
Un homme ne peut endurer ça
Last night, I got the fantastic opportunity to go to the first public pre-screening (read: world premiere!) of CTPP art director Shindō Mitsuo's new comedy film "otoko wa sore o gaman dekinai -Un homme ne peut endurer ça-", which pays homage to the hip Tokyo area called Shimokitazawa.
Before the film began, there was a mini live show featuring Kojima Mayumi and Watanababy, accompanied by Kyon at piano. Mayumi first sang "mizuumi", as she does in the movie, then Watanababy sang two of his songs, and then Mayumi came back on stage to sing "konya wa Boogie Back" with him. Director Shindō Mitsuo was also brought on stage to receive flowers and to introduce the movie. He said that he used to live nearby Shimokitazawa some four years ago, and that the film became a plan after meeting Takenaka Naoto and offering him the lead role, about which he was very enthusiastic. He said he felt much in debt to Shimokitazawa after receiving so much help from the local shops and people.
It was great to see him up close, he somewhat reminds me of Konishi Yasuharu, in his way of speaking at the least.
The film itself was hilarious, and edited in a pop way that makes it look sort of like a long Pizzicato Five music video, with titles in English and Japanese and animation popping up. Music is omnipresent throughout the film, whether as BGM, karaoke or down at Club Que.
The story is about the community of Shimokitazawa getting progressively corrupted by the arrival of a first soapland in the neighborhood. At first everyone is against the idea of such a disgrace finding its place in calm Shimokita, but then the men, who start enjoying going to the "explanation seminars", and even the women, charmed by the evil businessmen's handsome visitors from their host club, get into the idea that it might all be for the best... Will the town's Buddhist priest (impersonated by Takahashi Yukihiro) and a determined woman be enough to bring everyone back to reason?
Beware, being in the hands of a leading art director, this movie is far from being any "normal". Starting like a French movie with narration by Florent Dabadie and then the titles showing the dancing beautiful girls of Tokyo Ca☆bunny (who take the role of the soapland's staff in the movie), the film then moves on to non-stop visual excitement. There are bits illustrated by Terry Johnson, depicting the backroom soapland action, and also an hilarious YMO parody break. There's also a scene where Kojima Mayumi sings in bar Lady Jane held by Kishino You-ichi (Lady) and Nomiya Maki (Jane). Plenty of unexpected surprises and lots of laughs.
Entirely shot in Shimokitazawa in August 2005, the film succeeds in immortalizing many of the town's key spots. When I go from now on I'll definitely notice places I used to oversee, and go "oh! that was in the movie!". A fun film I will want to see again.
Posted on July 7, 2006 at 20:57 | Tweet
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Very cool!!! I will have to check out this film. Thanks for the tip!
Posted by Roy on July 9, 2006 at 12:13