Perfect Blue

Perfect Blue

Author: Film Stories January 6, 2020 Duration: 1:07:21
This episode, I’m joined by guest-host Jenn to discuss Satoshi Kon’s 1997 psychological thriller anime, Perfect Blue. We especially focus on the film’s commentary of the treatment of women in Japan’s entertainment industry, particularly J-Pop idols, and why the potential American remake would never have worked. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/japanonfilm/message Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For decades, Japanese cinema has offered a unique lens on storytelling, from the epic destruction of kaiju to the intimate chill of J-horror and the vibrant worlds of anime. Japan On Film, hosted by author and lecturer Perry Constantine, is a deep dive into this rich cinematic landscape. Each episode moves beyond simple review, using films as a starting point to explore the society, history, and cultural nuances that shape them. Joined by knowledgeable guests, Perry unpacks everything from cult exploitation flicks to mainstream animations, revealing the context that makes these movies so compelling. This podcast is for anyone who has ever been captivated by a Japanese film and wanted to understand the world behind the image. You’ll find conversations that are as educational as they are engaging, peeling back layers of meaning from both classic and contemporary works. It’s a guided tour through the wide, wonderful, and deliberately weird universe of Japan’s film output, celebrating its creativity and complexity. Presented by Film Stories, this series makes each movie a doorway to a deeper appreciation.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 119

Japan On Film
Podcast Episodes
S11E02 – Dogora (1964) [宇宙大怪獣ドゴラ] [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:20:31
Podcaster and screenwriter Nick Chandler joins Perry to discuss Dogora, an interesting kaiju film also directed by the great Ishiro Honda. One part monster film, one part heist film, it's a unique entry in the kaiju cata…
S11E01 – Pulse (2001) [回路] [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:15
In the first episode of Season 11, Perry is joined by Lindsay Nelson, an associate professor of Japanese cinema at Meiji University, to dive into Kiyoshi Kurosawa's classic horror film, Pulse! We discuss the film's presc…
S10E09 – Nightmare Detective (2007) [悪夢探偵] [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:30
Author Frank Schildiner returns to the show for the final episode of the season. This time, we discuss Shinya Tsukamoto’s serial killer thriller, Nightmare Detective. Though it has some unique ideas and impressive filmma…
S10E08 – Kwaidan (1965) [怪談] [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:21:59
Podcaster Mike Lund visits the show to discuss Kwaidan, an adaptation of four of Lafcadio Hearn's Japanese ghost stories. We discuss our favorite stories from this anthology, some of the impressive things the director di…
S10E07 – Red Beard (1965) [赤髭] [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:08
In this episode, Ian Buckley joins the show to discuss Red Beard, one of Kurosawa's most renowned films. With a lot of similar themes to Kurosawa's earlier film, Ikiru, it's also got some other stuff that we have fun dis…
S10E06 – 2LDK (2003) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:37
Director and writer Claire Downs appears on the show to discuss the minimalist 2LDK. Featuring two actresses whose roommate quarrels spiral into violence, there's also a lot of stuff in here about the treatment of the Ja…
S10E05 – Getting Any? (1995) [みんな〜やってるか!] [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:16
We're going lighter this time with comedy podcaster Chris Andersen. In this episode, we discuss Getting Any?, Takeshi Kitano's 1995 comedy/parody film about a middle-aged guy obsessed with sex and his zany adventures to…
S10E04 – Cure (1997) [キュア] [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:21
Author and Japanese film scholar Jennifer Upton comes on the show to discuss Kiyoshi Kurosawa's psychological thriller, Cure. There's a lot to unpack in this movie, so get ready! Hosted by Perry Constantine Guest-Starrin…