Postman Blues

  • 110'
  • Japan
  • 1997
Postman Blues is an entertaining story told in a refined way about the adventures of the conscientious postman Sawaki. On his evening round, he visits Noguchi, who has just chopped off his little finger to be admitted to a Yakuza gang. The pinkie rolls off the table into Sawaki mail bag. When Sawaki opens all the mail that evening in a testy and drunken fit, he loses Noguchi's little finger. That is a problem because Noguchi's Yakuza boss wants the pinkie to prevent Noguchi getting it put back on later in secret. In the meantime, the police are keeping a close watch on Noguchi's house, so the postman changes from one day to the next into the main suspect in a murder and drugs case. This is but one of the many absurd storylines in the film.The corrupt postman as narrative trick: He Yi (Postman) and Pål Sletaune (Junk Mail, see elsewhere in the catalogue) led the way for Sabu. Supported by a very inventive plot emerging from that one evening when the postman opened the mail, Postman Blues is above all a hilarious film, filled with super-cool humour. For instance there is the wild pursuit on bicycles and we get a glimpse of the National Hitmen Contest. The police are extremely stupid, the Yakuza only a little cleverer, but they too are ridiculed by Sabu. One of them: 'A hitman has to follow the music in his head. Music determines how the attack will look.'
  • 110'
  • Japan
  • 1997
Directors
Sabu, Sabu
Country of production
Japan
Year
1997
Festival Edition
IFFR 1998
Length
110'
Medium
35mm
Language
Japanese
Producer
Suplex Inc.
Sales
Fortissimo Films
Screenplay
Sabu
Directors
Sabu, Sabu
Country of production
Japan
Year
1997
Festival Edition
IFFR 1998
Length
110'
Medium
35mm
Language
Japanese
Producer
Suplex Inc.
Sales
Fortissimo Films
Screenplay
Sabu