Cast Member: Ren Osugi

An extraordinary story about how ordinary people cope with the very worst that can happen and how love is a remarkable bond.

‘Brother’ is a very classy film with some powerful moments that are eloquently shot and acted through the eyes of Takeshi Kitano.

‘Crazy Lips’ exists as a curiosity piece for people who adore bizarro Japanese cinema infused with nonsensical plotting and an abundance of sleaze.

It does share some style and themes with Kurosawa’s bigger genre hit ‘Pulse’, but ‘Cure’ is a tighter wound and better executed film that lingers long after the final frame.

Blessed with the presence of Aoi Miyazaki – possibly the cutest actress in the universe – the story of two ordinary people dealing with life-changing illness is uplifting without being glib.

Not sure what it wants to be, the latest Japanese production of their beloved property is not the triumphant return some had hoped.

Although it may not be for everyone, ‘Sonatine’ is a captivating watch that really shows a different side to the gangster lifestyle.

Nominated for an Academy Award and sweeping the board at the Japanese equivalent of ‘The Oscars’, Yoji Yamada’s lyrically, tenderly woven tale of dignity is a triumph of substance over action.