Rokugatsu no hebi (2002)

Director:

Shinya Tsukamoto

Writer:

Shinya Tsukamoto (writer)

Release Date:

13 June 2003 (UK)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery

Tagline:

Issho ni, jigoku ni ikimashô

Plot:

A man and woman fall into an erotic nightmare when they are stalked by a disturbed man. |

Plot Keywords:

Sex | Surrealism | Mini Skirt | Telephone | Fetish

Awards:

5 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Asuka Kurosawa	...	Rinko Tatsumi
Yuji Kohtari	...	Shigehiko (as Yuji Koutari)
Shinya Tsukamoto	...	Iguchi
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Mansaku Fuwa
Tomoko Matsumoto
Shûji Ôtsuki
Tomorowo Taguchi
Susumu Terajima
Masato Tsujioka

Directed by
Shinya Tsukamoto

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Shinya Tsukamoto		writer

Produced by
Shin-Ichi Kawahara	....	associate producer
Shinya Tsukamoto	....	producer

Original Music by
Chu Ishikawa

Cinematography by
Shinya Tsukamoto

Film Editing by
Shinya Tsukamoto

Production Design by
Shinya Tsukamoto

Costume Design by
Hiroko Iwasaki

Makeup Department
Takashi Oda	....	special makeup effects artist

Special Effects by
Takashi Oda	....	dummy effects

Production Companies

• Kaijyu Theater

Distributors

• Filmfreak Distributie (2004) (Netherlands) (all media)
• Mondo Home Entertainment (2004) (Italy) (DVD)
• Rapid Eye Movies (2004) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Revolver Film (????) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Starmedia Home Entertainment (????) (Germany) (DVD)
• TLA Releasing (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Tartan Video USA (2006) (USA) (DVD) (widescreen)
• Tartan Video USA (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Tartan Video (2004) (UK) (DVD)
• Tartan (2003) (UK) (theatrical)
• There's Enterprise (????) (Japan) (VHS)

Also Known As:

A Snake of June (Canada: English title) (International: English title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexuality, nudity and some violence.

Runtime:

77 min | Canada:77 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Singapore:R21 | Germany:16 | Italy:VM14 | South Korea:18 | UK:18 | USA:R | Netherlands:16

Company:

Kaijyu Theater

Interesting avant-garde from Japan

This film is about sexual inhibitions, fantasies and social restrictions. The reviewer who said this film is stupid and has no story obviously doesn't grasp the fact that this is an avant-garde film. The imagery, themes and sound are what make the film, not the narrative. It works on a different level and is better appreciated by people who are interested in film as an art form rather than merely popcorn entertainment. The imagery is dark and provocative and enhanced by the blue and white monochrome. The director employs his trademark hand-held camera and big close ups. Although the themes are sexual in nature the film never feels like exploitation. The film isn't perfect by any means but is an interesting example of avant garde film-making by a significant Japanese director. Watch it with an open mind.