Survivor Ballads: Three Films by Shohei Imamura 12/29/20

If you’re after real nonconformist filmmaking with a political bent, Shohei Imamura’s daring and often sexually candid pictures will fit the bill. Arrow gathers three of his best from the 1980s, the international success The Ballad of Narayama, the stunning Hiroshima aftermath drama Black Rain and the largely unseen, often wickedly funny Zegen. Each is disturbing, politically pointed and relentlessly honest. Arrow appoints this three- title set with new expert audio commentaries and Tony Rayns featurettes, plus a fat essay booklet. Zegen, we are told, has never before been available subtitled in English. On Blu-ray from Arrow Academy.
12/29/20