Survive Style 5+

Describing this film as virtuoso is like saying there is water in the sea. It is a film like a cyclone. A storm of images with the violence of a computer game. A murder can seem careless and explosive in its cruelty, but the effect is never deadly: in the following scene, everyone can join in again, whether they are the winner or the loser, and this in an absurdist repetition. The film has the pace and colour of a music video and the cruel absurdity of the classic surrealists. Thriller (Jackson) meets Un Chien Andalou (Buñuel). The film is devastating in its maelstrom of many characters. There is the television maker Yoko, who tries to kill his hypnotic wife Aoyama. That seems to work out, but he has to do it again and again. Ishigaki also tries to kill his violent wife, but he is no match for her. Then there is the average Kobayashi, who is hypnotised and thinks he is a bird. As he hops around he develops into the most absurd and captivating figure in the film. For a normal film, this would be more than enough, but in his over-populated world, Sekiguchi still found space for a professional murderer and three thieves. Survive Style 5+ is the first feature by Sekiguchi, but in the world of commercials he is already a renowned and experienced director. A special training ground, that much is apparent. (GjZ)