Innovation of Style: Nikkatsu's 100th Anniversary Suzuki Seijun Retrospective
The Korean Film Archive and the Korean Association of Cinematheques celebrated the 100th anniversary of Nikkatsu, one of Japan's leading film production companies, by organizing a retrospective of the works of director Suzuki Seijun, who has influenced numerous filmmakers.
Photo: Nikkatsu Corporation
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Nikkatsu, which began its journey in 1912 as the 'Nihon Katsudō Shashin Kabushiki Kaisha,' has played a significant role in the history of Japanese cinema.
Throughout its history, Nikkatsu has embraced an 'Innovation of Style,' producing films spanning various genres, from melodrama to literary adaptations, action films, youth-oriented movies, and even the romances and erotica of the 1970s, adapting to the changing times and film industry.
Photo: IMDb.com, Inc.
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This special retrospective focuses on the films of Suzuki Seijun, a director often hailed as the epitome of Nikkatsu's 'Innovation of Style.' He is renowned for his ability to create unique visual effects, combining elements of brutal violence and humor within the constraints of limited budgets and low-quality scripts.
In the 1960s, Suzuki Seijun emerged as a prominent figure in the Japanese New Wave cinema, influencing many directors such as Wong Kar-wai, Quentin Tarantino, and Jim Jarmusch.
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Suzuki Seijun's works, characterized by the striking contrast of black and red colors and centered around his masterpiece Tokyo Drifter, symbolize his distinct and profound artistic world that is irreplaceable.
This retrospective, spanning approximately three months, toured Seoul and Busan, eliciting a tremendous response from audiences.
