Cinema Dérive - Throw Away Your Books, Rally in the Streets (1971)
THROW AWAY YOUR BOOKS, AND RALLY IN THE STREETS 1971
(書を捨てよ街へ出よう) 1971
Directed by Shuji Terayama
138 minutes
In Japanese with English subtitles
Terayama Shuji was Japan's infant-terrible of the sixties. Genius, avant-gardist, iconoclast, photographer, director, playwright, novelist, filmmaker, rebel, cultural critic and poet. In his time, his work incited scandal and outrage. He is almost totally unknown outside his home country, but in Japan he is a cult hero. While driven to create art in many genres, Terayama nurtured above all his role as an outsider, encouraging disaffected youths to rebel against social convention. His theatrical troupe, Tenjô Sajiki, was a haven for talented pop artists, transvestites, dwarfs, circus performers, and gamblers. It is generally believed that his theatre works cannot not be remounted after his death. That's how unique his directorial style was.
In 1971, Terayama created this wild film THROW AWAY YOUR BOOKS AND RALLY IN THE STREETS which still divides modern Japanese audiences like hell... it is considered a masterpiece by many (especially the young) but also draws a lot of critical flack (especially from the establishment). We follow the life of an introspective Japanese boy as he struggles with the world of sexual taboos, hypocrisy and social rebellion. The film is dreamily composed of wonderfully noisy psychedelic music, illuminating colored filters, psycho-sexual imagery and a broken free-form narrative. Its plot is elliptical and loose, and it's been described as a "phantasmagoric masterpiece of rebellion." All in all, it is a story told to us by an artist, by a painter, by a poet. Hugely beloved by so many people, I consider it one of the top Japanese films of all time... and here in the west it is totally unknown and unseen.
Here is what one viewer had to say about this film :
"Another hugely rewarding experiment from the Japanese underground, this is the reason I soak up forgotten independent cult cinema like a sponge. The film focuses on several young Japanese people and their various trials and tribulations... but the way it's presented is utterly fresh and unique. Accompanied by an outstanding noise/proto-punk/psychedelic rock soundtrack, colourful characters, startling visuals, odd camera angles, flashy editing and a blatant disregard for cinematic conventions, this comes with my highest recommendation. Its runtime is used to full capability with not one dull moment in the slightest. A vital, fresh, important and above all terrifically fun slice of anarchist cinema. Perhaps influential on Harmony Korine, among many other great modern filmmakers this film has gone unnoticed for far too long. Join the cult, spread the word and see this wonderful cinematic treat."
CINEMA DÉRIVE
Overtoom 301 2nd floor - ventilator space
Doors open at 19:30,
film starts at 20:00
