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This listing is for the standard edition Blu-ray. The limited edition slipcover was limited to 1,000 units and is sold out. The two versions are identical, aside from the slipcover.
Named after Yasujiro Ozu’s custom-made, tatami-level, crab-like tripod, Kani is a new home video label dedicated to leveling the gaze and furthering the understanding of Asian cinema in North America. Focused on genre-defying films, Kani aims to expand the canon, bolster up-and-coming filmmakers and reintroduce repertory classics in context. Vinegar Syndrome’s sister company, OCN Distribution, is thrilled to be representing this diverse and unique home video line!
Lost and nihilistic drifter Utamaro chances upon Giko, a female-presenting shoplifter who immediately catches his eye. One thing leads to another and the couple soon find themselves on the lam for murder. This provides for a delightful pretext to explore notions of societal malaise, free love and gender fluidity in a rapidly evolving 1970s Japan, as both Utamaro and Giko begin to know each other on the road by way of a variety of encounters, alternating between surrealistic, psychedelic and sexual.
The sole feature film directed by Isao Fujisawa, who learned his craft as an assistant director to Hiroshi Teshigahara on New Wave classics such as Woman in the Dunes and The Face of Another, Bye Bye Love is a deeply personal reckoning with sexual identity. Bridging the distance between Pierrot le fou, Bonnie and Clyde and Funeral Parade of Roses with an impeccable sense of style, splashes of Godardian color as well as strong anti-imperialist and existentialist themes, this iconic jishu eiga (self-produced film) was long thought lost until recently shepherded towards restoration by director and programmer Akihiro Suzuki. A new landmark of Japanese queer cinema, it is now distributed in North America for the very first time in 50 years.
“Anticipates the transgressive New Queer Cinema movies of Gregg Araki and Gus Van Sant...” — Luke Goodsell, Metrograph
“A veritable unicorn fossil unearthed from the Pleistocene bogland of 1974 and spit-shined for our retro-retro delectation… Bye Bye Love is pure snot-nosed anti-establishment indie heaven...” — Michael Atkinson, The Village Voice
“Presciently offers an accomplished representation of queer love and genderfluid identity nailing both ends of the trans experience: the reassuring euphoria when gender identity and presentation align and the thorny, insidious envy of cisgender people." — Ren Scateni, BFMAF
directed by: Isao Fujisawa starring: Ren Tamura, Miyagi Ichijo, Puzo Morita, Atsuko Ami, Satomi Oki, Enver Altenbay 1974 / 85 min / 1.85:1 / Japanese DTS-HD MA 2.0
Additional info:
Region A Blu-ray
2K restoration
Introduction by director and programmer Akihiro Suzuki
Interview with director Isao Fujisawa
Booklet with new writing by Akihiro Suzuki
English SDH subtitles
Overall rating: 4.7843137 / 5 from 51 reviews.
AI Generated Review Summary
Bye Bye Love, a 1974 Japanese film directed by Isao Fujisawa, has been restored and is now available for the first time in North America. This film, praised for its exploration of gender fluidity and societal themes, is a significant addition to any film collection. The release by Kani, a home video label dedicated to Asian cinema, has been met with positive feedback from customers.
"This film is very cool and has some of the coolest imagery (particularly the electrifying love scenes!)" — Ben C.
"Kani has been releasing some incredible movies lately and this is one of them!" — Dakota D.
"Fascinating mix of aesthetics, poetic and intuitive, such a great discovery" — Donald M.
Reviews
Kani Pride
"Another great underground cult film from Asia unearthed by Kani. Beautiful film and great release from one of my favorite partner labels."
— Tony Z. (5/5)
Queer Godard from Japan?
"Very cool, highly stylish and radical filmmaking. Kind of like a queer Pierrot le fou from Japan, very DIY in its approach. It also feels like some of the auteur manga being published by magazines like Garo at approximately the same time. Anyway, yet another cool and bold choice from Kani Releasing! This one comes highly recommended!"
— Alexandre R. (5/5)
Interesting Flick
"The package quality was very high, and the film itself was very different, but interesting never-the-less. I also liked the interviews included as well. The peerless VS restoration process was on full display with stellar sound and picture! Thank you, VS, for continuing to lovingly restore and release so many wonderful films from every conceivable genre! You are keeping physical media alive in this streaming world we now live in! Highly recommended!"
— Paul K. (5/5)
Fantastic LGBTQ Flick
"Great artsy flick with great cinematography and a heart-felt story. Highly recommended."
— Jeffrey L. (5/5)
Kani don’t miss
"Stoked to pick up a blu-ray release of this underground soon to be classic, a recent discovery that toured the film festivals last year and I’ve been dying to get a copy since. Kani are smashing it as always. This film is very cool and has some of the coolest imagery (particularly the electrifying love scenes!). Shipping was great, arrived quickly."
— Ben C. (5/5)
Solid restoration
"Great film! Very artistic and somber. Minimal extras but slipcover is very nice."
— Brett C. (4/5)
a pleasant surprise
"a pleasant surprise"
— mattias d. (4/5)
Queer Road Trip Fantasia on the Japanese Coast
"This film started a bit slow for me but it's charm grew on me immensely. Loved seeing both the cityscapes and the coastal rural scenes. The two leads were attractive, particularly the lead queer character, and the Godard influence on editing, design and whimsy was definitely evident. I could imagine Gregg Araki being influenced by this if he had seen it. Kani is one of my fave sub labels and this is a fabulous release from them."
— Maximilian P. (5/5)
Experimental and very '70s
"I’m always excited to see what gems the wonderful label Kani unearths, but this time I’m a bit at a loss. The film was just too experimental for me, and I almost gave up when the two protagonists spent what felt like 30 minutes throwing random objects at each other’s heads… maybe I just wasn’t in the right mood for it? Still, I wanted to stick with it and watched the film all the way through, but it left me feeling pretty perplexed in the end… BUT: I’m definitely going to give it a second chance!"
— Christian P. (3/5)
Japanese Bonnie and Clyde with a Twist
"This was another great hit from Kani. Of course it was also another blind buy that I was happy I took a chance on. Yes, it is a sort of Bonnie and Clyde type of movie, but with a twist. The main character falls on love with someone he believes is a woman, but finds out she is really a transgender male. He is confused about his feelings at first, but decides he loves her anyway. Along the way they engage in a lot of crimes and are hunted by the police. The story is pretty well done, and is more like an art house film. I would recommend checking this one out."
— Christopher K. (5/5)
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