Plot: What’s it about?
Kiroku Nanbu (Hideki Takahashi) is a normal high school boy, with intense hormones that rage until given some kind of release. He often outlets his sexual frustrations through violence, a habit which only hurts his chances with the girl he adores. Kiroku yearns for the affections of Michiko (Junko Asano), but she is a prim, proper, and quite religious young woman. So while Kiroku lusts after Michiko, he is unable to fulfill those desires, as she isn’t that kind of girl. She is somewhat interested in him however, though more to lend a hand and help him turn his behavior around, as opposed to love or romance. This leaves Kiroku unsatisfied and with few outlets to vent his hormones. He masturbates when privacy allows, but his primary channel remains violence, an outlet which grows in intensity by the hour. He joins up with a gang of fellow violent fellows at school, then goes on a rampage of rebellion. The rules are broken without hesitation and Kiroku finds himself in fights all the time, an issue he doesn’t seem to mind. He soon becomes close with a young man who only feeds Kiroku’s violent tendencies and together, the two battle the rival school gangs. This all leads to Kiroku aligning with a larger group, one that has real plans and isn’t just a band of schoolyard bullies. But will he always be ruled by violence, or will he find a path to escape and begin a normal life?
The films of Seijun Suzuki can be an unusual breed, a style unique to his approach, but that style is acclaimed and respected by critics and viewers alike. At first glance, Fighting Elegy looks like a military driven drama, not the kind of film we’d expect from Suzuki, at least in basic design. The film was made at a time when Suzuki was in love with bold, rich colors, yet the production was filmed in black & white. He does use the camera to follow the story from some odd angles and locations, but this still lacks a certain brand of his style. But visuals aside, this movie has his fingerprints all over it, as this is not a standard drama by any stretch of the imagination. Instead, Fighting Elegy is a violent, but often humorous social satire, one that refuses to pull any punches and while light in some moments, can also be quite dark. Then again, the darkness is driven by the social elements within the story, so Suzuki isn’t forcing the issue here. This is evident by the violence within the movie, as the fights are not full of flash and style, but more basic and brutal. Although Suzuki injects humor and instances of his trademark style, it is obvious this was a personal project, with issues that weighed on his mind. So don’t expect the brisk, over the top style cinema Suzuki is famous for, as this is a more down to earth, socially minded picture, it just has a few oddball moments. Criterion’s treatment offers no frills, but for fans of international cinema, Fighting Elegy is still well recommended.
Video: How does it look?
Fighting Elegy is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen. As with Criterion’s other Seijun Suzuki releases, this one looks good and ensures that Suzuki’s great visual sense comes through well. The print is in good condition, with no serious marks or debris, though a little grain can be seen in some sequences. I noticed a level of softness throughout, but this never proves to be a real issue, though it is evident. The black & white visuals look good outside of the softness, thanks to well balanced black levels. So the image here has some flaws, but given the material’s age, I think we can overlook the mild softness.
Audio: How does it sound?
The original Japanese soundtrack is preserved here, via a somewhat dated, but more than acceptable mono option. This is a much cleaner, clearer presentation than I had expected, as very few age related defects can be heard. I heard a few minor pops and moments of harshness, but given the age of the material, this is a superb effort. Even the smallest sounds can be heard with ease, so nothing is ever drowned out or lost in the shuffle. No worries on the dialogue front either, as all the vocals are sharp and never muffled. This disc also includes newly refined, optional English subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes the film’s theatrical trailer.
