The Ceremony (Gishiki)

Description

«Oshima smuggles a ticking time bomb into this biting portrayal of a highly dysfunctional (and extremely influential) dynasty, set against the otherwise tranquil backdrop of classic Japanese family melodrama. For over a quarter of a century, he follows the Sakurada clan in their desperate struggle to maintain status and honor (..). Masuo, the youngest scion of the family, fights to keep the Sakurada's skeletons – incest, simmering grudges, and other secrets – in the basement during a series of weddings and funerals; each empty ceremony is another step toward their own downfall.» (Metrograph) «I am a huge fan of Nagisa Oshima. He was one of the most radical Japanese directors of the 60s, a true master. The Ceremony is an impressive, intergenerational family drama that is very ambitious on both familial and political levels (…). Oshima was never afraid to carry his ideas through from start to finish, and he always deftly sidestepped the censors who were unhappy with his political message about post-war Japan.» (Richard Linklater in conversation with Indiewire) Contributors and additional information: Director: Nagisa Oshima Screenplay: Mamoru Sasaki, Tsutomu Tamura, Nagisa Oshima Cinematography: Toichiro Narushima Music: Toru Takemitsu Editing: Keiichiro Uraoka Cast: Kenzo Kawarazaki (Masuo Sakurada), Atsuko Kaku (Ritsuko Sakurada, a cousin), Nobuko Otowa (Shizu Sakurada), Kei Sato (Kazuomi Sakurada, the grandfather), Atsuo Nakamura (Terumichi Tachibana), Fumio Watanabe (Shun Sakurada, the uncle), Kiyoshi Tsuchiya (Tadashi Sakurada), Akiko Koyama (Satsuko Sakurada, Ritsuko's mother), Maki Takayama (Kiku Sakurada), Shizue Kawarazaki (Tomiko Sakurada), Hosei Komatsu (Isamu Sakurada), Rokko Toura (Mori Sakurada)